The Roosevelt Island Rivercross coop building shareholders voted last week not to change their current bylaws prohibiting dogs in units (except those for service/emotional support). The policy has been in place since Rivercross opened in 1975.
Rivercross resident Ellen Polivy reacts to the vote:
Rivercross wont be letting in dogs at this time. We failed to pass an amendment to the proprietary lease to allow dogs in the building. To amend the lease requires a 2/3 super majority of the total shares to vote yes. Unfortunately, the yes votes did not clear that very high bar. Many people who didnt vote might not have understood that not voting was counted as a no vote. But many might have been ambivalent.
I feel sad and disappointed. I hoped more neighbors would be more kindly focused on the benefits of “man’s best friend” to our well-being and mental health. But this wont happen now. I have to remember that up until recently, Roosevelt Island was a no-dog Island, and I have to admit, much as I like dogs, it was much cleaner then.
I think many of the no voters and some of the abstainers in our building feared that their neighbors just-might-possibly turn out to be the same inconsiderate-slob dog owners they see evidenced around the Island. Some voters were not willing to take that chance no matter how generous they might have been inclined to be towards their neighbor. Lazy dog owners sully every other dog owners reputation, Even the responsible dog owners get tarnished.
I have begun to understand that a new conversation needs to be started if we are to have non-dog people comfortable having dogs in their previously pristine spaces. We have a sloppy dog problem here on the Island. According to complaints I’ve heard, some parts of our little Islands grass and tree beds are littered with dog poo. Some people are just not picking up after their pets. These are places where children play, families picnic, people do yoga and sunbathe and garden.
I, myself have put my yoga mat on the ground in more than one place and turned my face toward a smelly dried turd. I dont know where dogs are supposed to go to relieve themselves and which green spaces is an acceptable dog toilet where people should be warned not to put down their mats due to high concentrations of whatever came out of your pet. I can respectfully suggest curbing your dog is a good first start. But not being a dog owner myself, I have no idea what curbing your dog really means for someone walking their dog on the promenade. My personal peeve is people who let their dogs urinate under overhangs where the rain cant wash it away and where it remains as a constant sticky stain until someone from RIOC or building maintenance cleans it.
Two suggestions:
I humbly suggest that another step in helping people be responsible might be for all of us to carry an extra bag, catch lazy owners in the act and make a show of cleaning up for them if they dont do it themselves. Or perhaps, everyone should carry an extra bag and pick up dried feces when you see it.
It takes very little effort and the selfless act will get the Island much
cleaner. I am throwing out some suggestions as a way to get this conversation
started, action going. Perhaps dog owners taking action to clean up the island
will help non dog lovers become more comfortable accepting dogs in their
midst..
Dogs are also not allowed on the Rivercross lawn though that policy is rarely, if ever, enforced.
If they want to enforce no dogs on the grass then I suggest they move the
bag post to another area because it implies you can walk your dog here