Dear supporters,
🏛️ TONIGHT — CB8 FULL BOARD MEETING — ROOSEVELT ISLAND
Community Board 8 voted 37–0 in February to oppose this demolition. Their resolution was ignored. Tonight is their Full Board meeting — held right here on Roosevelt Island — and we need every seat filled.
📍 Cornell Tech Bloomberg Center · 2 West Loop Road
⏰ Wednesday, April 22 · 6:30 PM
💻 Also on Zoom — register to speak by 6:45 PM
We are asking CB8 to pass a new resolution, demand a Community Air Monitoring Plan before any chimney demolition proceeds, and write formally to Mayor Mamdani, Council Speaker Menin, and Governor Hochul demanding their direct intervention.
Two minutes at the microphone. That is all it takes.
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⚠️ THIS IS NOT JUST ROOSEVELT ISLAND'S FIGHT
Two smokestacks standing over 240 feet tall — lined with decades of #6 fuel oil combustion residue — are scheduled for imminent demolition. When they come down, fine particulate matter will be released and dispersed by wind. Toward the Upper East Side. Toward Long Island City. Past our school, our playgrounds, our children. No Community Air Monitoring Plan is in place. No one will know what is released or where it goes. Share this with your neighbors across the river.
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🎥 WATCH THE FULL TOWN HALL — NOW PUBLIC
On April 15, over 100 residents packed Good Shepherd Chapel and confronted HPD, DOB, DEC, and RIOC face to face. Now you can watch every minute — and hear what the agencies said with your own ears.
Key moments to watch:
⏱ 25:17 — Environmental assessment NOT completed. Demolition already underway.
⏱ 34:01 — "You only found the oil spill because I called you"
⏱ 47:07 — 🔥 Room chants "WHAT'S THE EMERGENCY?"
⏱ 51:13 — ❤️ Children suffering asthma attacks since demolition began
⏱ 1:14:56 — A first contractor was hired and WALKED OFF the job
⏱ 1:34:06 — DOB official says on camera: "We'll see what we can PUBLISH" — the report EXISTS
⏱ 1:43:12 — Meeting ends. Zero documents released.
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📰 THE STORY IS GROWING
Gothamist — New York Public Radio — published a full investigation on April 19. amNewYork published a journalist-resident's op-ed calling this a "manufactured emergency." Hoodline covered the community's outcry. Roosevelt Islander Online published an article and a full video of the meeting. CB8 featured the Gothamist story in their official weekly news briefing this Monday. And DOB First Deputy Commissioner Shamash has responded to ArchRI's formal letter and agreed to meet with us.
DEC Spill Case #2508914 — confirmed soil and groundwater contamination by #6 fuel oil — has been open 74 days. No approved remediation plan. Demolition continues regardless.
— THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW —
1️⃣ ATTEND tonight's CB8 meeting or tune in via Zoom
2️⃣ WATCH & SHARE the Town Hall video: youtu.be/eNsrtGp2dBY
3️⃣ DONATE to the legal fund: gofund.me/de8f122d8
The agencies said on camera they will "see what they can publish." Hold them to it.
Watch the video. Share it everywhere. The truth is in every frame.
Architectural Community Alliance of Roosevelt Island (ArchRI)
archrica.org · info@archrica.org · @TheArchRI