12Isle be damned, Hil
Roosevelt I. fears Clinton campaign chaos
ROOSEVELT ISLAND DAY is about to become Hillary Clinton Day — and not everyone’s happy about that.
The Democratic presidential hopeful is inviting the world to her June 13 campaign kickoff at Four Freedoms Park on the island between Manhattan and Queens.
But the campaign is offering few concrete details about crowds and logistics, and locals — who already have limited transportation options — are wondering how they’ll cope.
“It’s gonna be a nightmare. There are two trains,” said resident Abi Clark, 26.
Clinton has promised to make her second White House bid about improving the lives of everyday Americans. But the hubbub related to her announcement could disrupt the annual neighborhood holiday known as Roosevelt Island Day — and has left community boosters wondering when she’ll have time to listen to the people who actually live there.
Matthew Katz, former head of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association, called Team Clinton “tone deaf” for bigfooting the community’s special day. Plus, “We’d like her to come to my side of the island, where the people are. Nobody lives in a park,” Katz said.
Association Vice President Sherie Helstien, who’s Katz’s wife, told the Daily News that months of planning for the local celebration won’t be dumped to accommodate a potential influx of Clinton fans. “It’s their problem to get around us,” she said. “We are the community.”
Roosevelt Islanders are used to a complex slog to and from their homes: There’s a tram, a subway stop, and bus service from Queens, plus limited parking. But Clinton’s camp ignored questions about the local impact — and the images — of the event while continuing to promote it on social media.
Roosevelt Islander Charlene Lacey, 66, said she’s happy Clinton is visiting the neighborhood but she acknowledged that such attention may have its price. “Just think of all the people coming to see her,” Lacey said. “I assume it’ll be backed up.”