On August 24th, His Honor, thanks to the advocacy of Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, visited Roosevelt Island and got an earful on the issues the community faces – not the least of which was redistricting. Roosevelt Islander blogger Rick O’Connor posted the video on his YouTube channel.
His ask…… “I’m a list person; make me a list!”
Main St. Dems will do exactly that! We’re looking for input from you to tell us what should go on this important list. Don’t be shy. Fill out the following form today. You don’t need to be a registered Democrat to do so. Make your suggestions by Sunday, October 9th. Please stick to issues specifically for Roosevelt Island for example:
We need a medical facility here.
We need a bank.
We need to be able to elect the folks who run the community.
Our City Council Representative must be a Manhattan Representative.
We need at least 1 NYPD Officer here 24/7.
We need a Citizens Complaint Review Board to review complaints against the Public Safety Dept.
Keep the 102 bus route.
We need more shops and restaurants.
Be sure to repeat any of the above to amplify their message. You can simply state their numbers. And add more to the growing list.
Share this post with every Roosevelt Islander you know!
If you want your interests supported by others, make sure you speak with people who can support them, and encourage their cooperation with this effort. We’re keeping track!
CB 8’s Roosevelt Island Co-Chair Lynne Shinozaki and Roosevelt Island Supporters at 8/22 NYC District Commission Hearing
We Still Need Letters!
The NYC Districting Commission is tasked with dividing NYC’s population of 8.8 million into 51 districts of 172,882 residents. They have shifted Roosevelt Island’s Council Representation from District 5 in Manhattan to District 26 in Queens. To see more on the problems this creates for our community, and provide comments to the commission, please use this link.
While the Commission’s hearings are in the rearview mirror- our community’s need for more comments and letters continues – right up to the final date for submission of the Commission’s ultimate plan, on December 7th.
Timeline for Future Redistricting Action- from Common Cause
OCTOBER 7, 2022: Deadline for the Commission to make its revised plan available to the public
NOVEMBER 7, 2022: Commission must hold at least one public hearing prior to this date
DECEMBER 7, 2022: Districting Commission must submit its final plan to the Council
FEBRUARY 28, 2023: Beginning of petitioning process for City Council primary election
JANUARY 6, 2024: Districting Commission term ends
Fabulous news!
As I left the hearing on August 22nd, I was intercepted in the building’s lobby by the gentleman who actually reads and organizes the comments for the Commission. He informed me that Roosevelt Island had submitted more comments than any other area of NYC! The total of our comments grouped with the rest of District 5, was greater than all of NYC put together!
But we still need more!
We can’t rest on our laurels! We have a community to protect!
Roosevelt Island has unique needs, such as the necessity for the Roosevelt Island Tramway to be in one, and only one, council district, and to have a Manhattan City Council Member’s support to secure Manhattan permits whenever they are essential for repairs, maintenance, and capital improvements for our vital, indeed unique, commuter link.
If you have yet to send your comment to the Commission, please do so right away! Tap this link for all the information you need!
Here’s more!
We not only need to continue our letter-writing campaign, but to reach out to each person on the Commission directly. If you are acquainted with any of the following people, please let me know, immediately at jm_short@ymail.com.
Dennis M. Walcott, Chair Yovan Samuel Collado Hon. Marilyn D. Go Kevin John Hanratty Maria Mateo, Esq. Joshua Schneps Lisa Sorin Msgr. Kevin Sullivan Kai-Ki Wong Maf Misbah Uddin Michael Schnall Kristen Johnson Gregory W. Kirschenbaum Marc Wurzel Dr. Darrin K. Porcher
What does Mayor Eric Adams think of redistricting?
On August 24th, His Honor, thanks to the advocacy of Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, visited the community and got an earful on the issues the community faces – not the least of which was redistricting. Blogger Rick O’Connor posted the video on his YouTube channel.
His ask…… “I’m a list person, make me a list!”
Main St. Dems will do exactly that. We’re looking for input from you to tell us what should go on that important list. Don’t be shy. Fill out the following form today.
Community Board 8’s redistricting proposal supported by Lynne Shinozaki, Co-Chair Roosevelt Island Committee of CB8,, and Joyce Short, Founder, Main St Democratic Club
All Roosevelt Islanders, no matter what age, political party, or even immigration status, are eligible to speak up about their redistricting concerns. The Districting Commission of NY City has proposed new district lines for City Council Representatives that ends the community’s 50 year association with our Manhattan Council Member and connects us with one in Queens. To read more about the problems caused by this redistricting effort, tap on this link.
The Main Street Democratic Club and the Roosevelt Island Committee of Community Board 8 have joined forces to help galvanize the community’s protest.
Giving Testimony
Residents are invited to send letters to the Commission and to testify in the upcoming hearings. Testimony can take the form of letters, emails, Zoom calls, and in-person appearances. This link will help you with your letters and comments to the commission.
Coalescing Roosevelt Island’s Resolve
The community’s collective protest at the Manhattan hearing, has been organized for Monday, August 22nd from 5:30 to 9 PM. All speakers must register in advance. Here is the link to do so. If you are arriving by our community bus, (see below,) please request a 6:15 time slot for your testimony.
We encourage as many residents as possible to attend the Monday, 8/22, hearing, in order to show our collective strength; however, you can attend any of the redistricting hearings. They are all listed below. We also encourage everyone attending the hearings to wear Roosevelt Island RED!
You can attend the hearings to testify, or simply to support your neighbors who’ll be doing so. Feel free to applaud their efforts! Speakers will have a 3 minute allotment of time. You must bring your vaccination record or a same-day negative Covid test. The Commission can run out of speaker spots so sign up as soon as possible!
It is helpful to write your comment in advance and bring two copies… one for yourself – reading it is fine – and one for the commission’s records.
Speaking by Zoom
The same link will enable you to give testimony by zoom. Simply indicate “Virtually by Zoom” when you reach the “Testifying” choices.
All Hearing Locations:
Tues., Aug. 16 5:30 pm to 9 pm Museum of the Moving Image, Sumner Redstone Theater, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria, Queens 11106
Wed., Aug. 17 5:30 pm to 9 pm Lehman College (CUNY), Gillet Auditorium, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, The Bronx, 10468
Thurs., Aug. 18 5:30 pm to 9 pm Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Rm 125, Staten Island, 10301
Sun., Aug 21 3:30 pm to 7 pm Medgar Evers College (CUNY), School of Science Health & Technology, Dining Hall, 1638 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, 11225
Mon., Aug. 22 5:30 pm to 9 pm Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., Harlem, Manhattan, 10037
Last week’s Zoom Meeting
Our efforts are supported by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Council Member Julie Menin. Both have provided compelling arguments in favor of our position to the Districting Commission. Congresswoman Maloney knocked it out of the park with the Island-specific letter posted below.
Use this link to view highlights from our recent Zoom meeting with our legislators and allies, such as our District Committeewoman, Rebecca Weintraub.
Securing Transportation
A free bus (contributions welcomed but not required) has been arranged for 44 people who request a seat using the following form. It will leave from Good Shepherd Plaza, next to 531 Main Street, at 4:15 PM Monday evening. Priority will be given to residents who are providing testimony. The remaining seats are available for folks who are cheering us on! You’ll be notified of your reservation.
The bus is not equipped for wheelchairs. (Connect with RIDA on their efforts to supply transportation.) The hearings are accessible for people with physical disabilities. Signing interpreters and language interpreters can be arranged by contacting athearings@districting.nyc.gov or calling 212-442-0256 at least 5 days prior to the hearing.
Bring signs! Wear red! Show the commission that we’re a community of Manhattan residents, not a political football!
Fill out the following form to reserve one seat. If you need more, please indicate the names of the additional people you are reserving seats for in the space that asks if you are registered as a speaker.
