#Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. head fired over ‘racially and sexually offensive’ remarks

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The Roosevelt Island tram, which is operated by the RIOC.
Annie Wermiel/NY Post

The head of the state agency that oversees Roosevelt Island was fired for making “racially and sexually offensive” remarks, The Post has learned.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation President and CEO Susan Rosenthal was ousted following a probe by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, which was initiated by a complaint received from an employee at the agency.

Details of the complaint against Rosenthal, who is white, were not immediately available.

Rosenthal previously served as general counsel to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and served as the agency’s chief ethics officer.

Words of Rosenthal’s termination came on Juneteenth — the holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

“A complaint was made to the Governor’s office on June 12th by an employee of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation that alleged that the President of the organization had used inappropriate language and engaged in inappropriate conduct in the workplace,” Cuomo senior adviser Richard Azzopardi said in a statement.

“This complaint was immediately referred to the New York State Governor’s Office of Employee Relations for investigation.

“This investigation substantiated that the president had used racially and sexually offensive language, in clear violation of state policy and the strict standards set by this Administration.”

“The President was immediately terminated,” he said.

Rosenthal did not return voice and text messages requesting comment.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. (RIOC) was created in 1984 as a public benefit corporation to plan, design, develop, operate and maintain Roosevelt Island.

RIOC provides services for the island’s residents and manages its two miles of roads, along with its parks, buildings, sports facility and public transportation — including the iconic aerial tramway.

It also operates a public safety department to protect residents, businesses and visitors.

RIOC has come under fire in the past for questionable spending and complaints about its public safety department.