PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joyce Short, Roosevelt Island Resident, on Resolution 132
2:27:02
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4 min
Joyce Short, a long-time Roosevelt Island resident, testifies in support of Resolution 132, which calls for granting Roosevelt Island residents the power to elect members of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) board. She argues that the current appointment system for RIOC board members is undemocratic and violates the principles of republican government.
- Short emphasizes that Roosevelt Island is leased by New York City to the state, and as the "landlord," the city should intervene to address the governance issues.
- She highlights the ineffectiveness of community referendums in influencing board appointments, with only one out of five referendums resulting in actual appointments.
- Short expresses concerns about RIOC's focus on maintaining a crime-free image for real estate purposes, potentially at the expense of properly addressing crime on the island.
Joyce Short
2:27:02
Thank you.
2:27:03
Thank thank you, Marj.
2:27:04
You're well said.
2:27:04
And thank you, chair wrestler and members of the committee.
2:27:09
I'm Joyce Short.
2:27:10
I'm a 49 year resident of Roosevelt Island, and I've served on just about every resident board that's elected by our population.
2:27:18
Because I've refused to serve on the ReWalk board because it's not elected.
2:27:24
I'll start with the obvious.
2:27:26
Roosevelt Island is a land mass in New York City, but it's leased by the city to the state of New York.
2:27:34
Until 2068.
2:27:36
So the state is New York City's tenant.
2:27:40
When a building owner has a problem with the tenant, they step in to fix it.
2:27:46
And that's what Roosevelt Islanders are asking you to do today.
2:27:51
As the landlord for Roosevelt Island, the community is asking you to stop the state, your tenant, from committing a serious crime against us.
2:28:02
Article 4, section 4 of the constitution of the United States ensures government as a republic throughout our nation.
2:28:11
To simplify James Madison's concept of a republic, It's one in where government is elected, and people serve for specific terms.
2:28:21
Can you imagine if you served in your capacity in city council with no concern as to whether you'd be voted out of office in the next election?
2:28:31
You would have no reason to consider the interest of your constituents.
2:28:35
Being able to vote you into office is only representative government if your constituents can also vote you out of office.
2:28:44
Now imagine if you were appointed to the office instead of elected to office, and that's exactly how Roosevelt Island is is governed.
2:28:54
1 of the many roles in the community that I've held has been to run their referendums also called Plebocytes to identify who the community wants as ReWalk directors.
2:29:07
Our votes only serve as a request which the governor can implement or ignore In the 5 referendum that our community conducted, only the first, under Governor Patterson's administration, led to actual appointments.
2:29:22
In fact, the last referendum included not only new faces who vied, Do I not have a I don't have a light?
2:29:29
Okay.
2:29:29
Okay.
2:29:34
Yeah.
2:29:35
The in the 5 referendum that our community conducted, only the first in governor David Patterson's administration led to actual appointments.
2:29:48
In fact, the last referendum included not only new faces who vied for the community's approval, but also the direct who were serving on the Riyadh board at the time.
2:29:59
The community voted their preference.
2:30:01
No one who the community supported was appointed.
2:30:06
Sorry.
2:30:06
At the time, the governor had not even seen fit to to fill several vacant seats, and the 2 current directors hardly received a vote, yet they still serve on the board today.
2:30:19
Because Rhiak is largely a real estate management business, their particular consumed by making Roosevelt Island appear to be crime free because crime stats impact real estate, and and crime does not get treated appropriately on Roosevelt Island.
2:30:42
We are Roosevelt Island stands as a blatant example of why our forefathers insisted on a Republican form of government for our nation including Roosevelt Island.
2:30:54
As the landlord for Roosevelt Island, please address the oppressive form of government that regulates regulates the lives of the 12,000 people who live there.
2:31:07
We need your help.
2:31:09
Thank you very much.
Lincoln Restler
2:31:10
Thank you very much, miss Short, and miss Smith, and Mister Crickler for your impassion testimony.
