Albany, New York—Two Roosevelt Island bills introduced by Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright regarding the management and organizational structure of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) were passed by the Assembly on Monday, June 5, 2017. Both bills are introduced in the Senate by Senator José Serrano.

Assembly Bill 5481 provides a step toward self-governance for Roosevelt Island residents by requiring the next newly appointed CEO to be a resident or become a resident within six months of his/her appointment. This residency requirement will ensure the CEO is a member of the community. Assembly Bill 5601 provides updates to the RIOC laws that are outdated and need clarification of the intent of specific provisions in the original laws of 1984. In addition, this legislation will include sexual orientation in the equal employment opportunity section of the laws. The bills have been delivered to Senate.

“I am proud to have introduced these bills and obtained passage in Assembly today. We worked closely with Senator José Serrano, the community, and the Roosevelt Island Residents Association Government Relations Committee to draft a bill that will support Roosevelt Islanders. I envision a Roosevelt Island that is self-governed so that services and programs are fully responsive to the needs of residents. The community must have a say in the decision-making process of how the island is governed, there should be no taxation without representation. The clarification and update of RIOC laws is long overdue and it is important that the laws governing the corporation are added to the Public Authorities Law so anyone with interest can easily find its enabling statute," said Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.