Tajuna Sharpe

Tajuna Sharpe is a public safety advocate, urban planner, and author of “The Irreleitable City: A New Paradigm for Post-City America.” Tajuna Sharpe is an assistant professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Fordham University.

There are many misconceptions about Roosevelt Island, but one often overlooked is that the city has neglected it. What some might not know, however, is that Mr. Roosevelt’s experiment in 1997 also created a new agency on the island to protect its residents–and this agency deserves more attention than ever before.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) was formed as part of the city’s plan to streamline operations on Roosevelt Island. RIOC is a nonprofit organization that provides representation for all residents living on the island. Each member of RIOC serves on one of five committees with different areas of expertise, including public safety, education, and finance.

The original idea for RIOC was to create a “single point of entry” for city services on Roosevelt Island to improve coordination between agencies like the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), which has jurisdiction over many aspects of living and working on the island—and thus helps advance Mr. Roosevelt’s idea of providing a community with every social service it needs.

Over time, RIOC has evolved into a more robust organization with an essential public safety mandate. Its five committees are now part of an executive board that collaborates to address resident concerns and plan for the future. Through it all, the center of RIOC’s work is providing a safe and secure environment for its residents and employees.

RIOC has become more proactive in its approach to public safety on Roosevelt Island to accomplish this goal. Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation contacts the police daily to report crimes and is a critical partner in crime prevention programs. It has also increased the presence of safety and security personnel on the island.

In 2010, RIOC underwent a significant shift in its approach to public safety when it took over responsibility for public safety on the island from the NYPD Command Bureau Public Safety Unit. The agency’s new purpose is to work closely with both New York City government agencies and community institutions to ensure that every aspect of living and working on Roosevelt Island—and its surrounding communities—is protected against crime.

Tajuna Sharpe is a public safety advocate, urban planner, and author of “The Irreleitable City: A New Paradigm for Post-City America.” Tajuna Sharpe is an assistant professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Fordham University. There are many misconceptions about Roosevelt Island, but one often overlooked is that the city has neglected…