Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President/CEO delivered the following prepared remarks to the April 9, 2026 RIOC RIOC Board Of Directors meeting. According to Mr Jones:
President & CEO Report – RIOC Board Meeting, April 9, 2026
I wanted to take this time to highlight how valuable community feedback has been over the last six months of my tenure. It has been instrumental in identifying ways to improve residents’ quality of life while helping us build a roadmap to strengthen that already high standard over time. That input has informed recent actions, including extending the Master Lease, removing RIOC CEO parking on Main Street, adding more recycling bins, purchasing quieter electric Grounds equipment, and accelerating the opening of Commons East Park.
Stakeholder engagement has also guided our near-term improvements. Following early meetings, we made adjustments to high-traffic public areas, including the Tram and Subway Plazas, reducing pedestrian congestion and improving cleanliness, and adding signage to enhance the rider experience. We’ve also worked with the local TRIBA community to encourage greater exploration of the island, including integrating live Red Bus tracking into the Citizen Project’s VisitRIapp, because better tracking and service remain top priorities.
Our Grounds and Maintenance crews are preparing the island’s playgrounds and fields for spring, including repairs to the fence at Al Lewis Playground, a new retaining wall and steps in Blackwell Park, installation of a new irrigation system at Capobianco Field, and aerating and reseeding fields.
More improvements are on the way as a direct result of community input. We are thinking both large and small—from fixing everyday quality-of-life issues, like a broken soda machine and front desk in the Cultural Center, to exploring long-term investments such as strengthening the seawall and eastern promenade over the steam tunnel.
We are also prioritizing long-delayed capital projects, including the roof replacement at Blackwell House and concrete work around the Girl Puzzle Monument, both expected to be completed this summer. Additional efforts include advancing repairs to closed piers along the island’s west side, improving AVAC performance through better tenant awareness, increasing parking enforcement on Main Street, and encouraging greater participation in island beautification—especially cleaning up after dogs, with the help of our four-legged spokesperson, Kirby.
“Operation Smooth Ride” continues to address potholes following the winter months, with more than 150 already repaired. Our Maintenance team is not simply filling potholes but cutting and repairing full sections of asphalt for longer-lasting results. Community participation has also been key to that, with residents reporting issues through the Brightly system, which we encourage everyone to use.
Our “Cherry Blossom Petal Protectors” program—another community-driven initiative—has already exceeded last year’s volunteer engagement in less than a week. These volunteers serve as ambassadors for Roosevelt Island and reflect the strong community spirit that defines us.
We are also engaging stakeholders on how to better activate and beautify public spaces across the island, including Motorgate, Main Street, and the Tram area, while exploring opportunities to enhance Blackwell House, the Smallpox Hospital Ruins, and even the old tram cars. At the same time, we are taking a long-term view, assessing the island’s vulnerabilities to climate change and severe weather.
But, not everything goes according to plan. This past Monday, a Tram service disruption—caused by a faulty sheave identified during routine maintenance—resulted in reduced service during rush hour. While this underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance, I have directed a full review to identify ways to prevent similar disruptions moving forward.
Finally, regarding the City’s steam plant demolition, we understand the community’s desire for more information – particularly about safety. While RIOC’s role is limited, we have elevated residents’ concerns to the appropriate agencies and are pleased to host an upcoming town hall with representatives from HPD, DOB, and DEC next week. I thank the community and our elected officials for their advocacy.
Thank you all for coming.