His job prospects have taken quite a hit.
One executive, who paid to promote a narrative blaming tourists for troubles with the tramway on Roosevelt Island, explained that this decision stemmed from difficulties in finding employees, as conveyed through his lawyer.
Shelton Haynes from the Roosevelt Island Business Commission—part of a trio of executives who allocated nearly $170,000 in taxpayer funds to improve local media representation—acknowledged that the organization’s online reputation was struggling.
“The negative coverage really hurt the morale of our team, making it tough to attract new talent,” he stated.
“Reputation…it was seen as pretty poor,” noted Williams, a partner at Walden Macht Harran & Williams.
The group spent a significant amount of money hiring a PR firm to optimize their Google search results, as media coverage had turned increasingly critical of tram services.
“They felt overwhelmed, so reaching out to the Status Lab seemed like their last hope,” Williams mentioned.
A recent state report detailed how Haynes and three other senior RIOC executives were compensated to create posts online linking tourist behavior to the tram’s issues.
However, it turned out the tram’s problems largely stemmed from internal mismanagement, broken equipment, and failures in service.
In a conversation with The Post, Williams defended Haynes, highlighting his leadership during a roughly $76 million upgrade to Roosevelt Island.
Local newspapers have scrutinized RIOC for years. The Roosevelt Island Daily News provides ongoing coverage on issues related to the tram and management challenges, tagging numerous articles under “RIOC negligence.”
In March 2022, an anonymous letter from RIOC staff described a “long history of corruption, ethical issues, harassment, and favoritism” within the organization.
Williams claimed that the governor’s office initially blocked hiring Status Lab when it was first suggested, saying the contract was under $175,000.
The company entered into a one-year deal with RIOC in October 2022, generating 17 favorable articles about executives for various blogs.
A representative for Frank de Maria, a consultant, insisted that their approach was about achieving “the right balance.” They argued that presenting a more positive narrative was essential.
“You’re countering negativity with positivity… I don’t see that as misleading,” De Maria emphasized. “It’s crucial to project an optimistic image.”
The inspector’s office criticized Status Labs’ strategy, stating it clashed with the principles of transparency in government.
A state report released on April 3 revealed that the PR firm funded efforts to suppress negative press about the tram and paid to publish articles tailored to manipulate search results.
“If your content isn’t visible on the first pages of search results, it’s as if it doesn’t exist,” the report noted, citing Google’s guidelines. Status Labs aims to “help clients manage their digital presence and portray the best version of themselves.”
Back in 2013, Haynes and former executive Gretchen Robinson sued RIOC and the governor’s office, alleging workplace discrimination and retaliation.
Both are Black and contend they faced racial discrimination while working at RIOC. Haynes was reportedly the focus of an investigation involving several inspectors, which he described as “unjust.” They both left RIOC last year.
The National Ethics Committee is currently examining the inspectors’ findings to determine if any ethical violations occurred.
Nonetheless, Williams argued that Haynes and Robinson were not informed about the investigation findings and lacked the chance to respond.
“Neither of them has a job right now. For those unfamiliar with their situation, they’re seen almost like outcasts,” Williams shared. “It has had a profoundly negative impact on their careers and emotional health.
