Tony Avella for Mayor

TONY AVELLA

Council Member - 19th Council District

Tony Avella won election to the New York City Council in the 19th District - Northeast Queens in 2001 and was reelected with an overwhelming majority in both the 2003 and 2005 elections. Tony is Chair of Zoning and Franchises for the City Council and is a member of five Council committees: Higher Education, Housing and Buildings, Fire and Criminal Justice Services, Land Use, and Veterans. Tony is the founder and Chair of the first Italian-American Caucus of the City Council.

Tony’s public service career began over 20 years ago as an aide to New York City Council Member Peter Vallone, Sr. He served as an aide to Mayors Koch and Dinkins and as Chief of Staff to the late State Senator Leonard Stavisky and to State Senator Toby Stavisky.

Since taking office in January 2002, Tony has authored important legislation such as his historic “Demolition by Neglect” bill, which was signed into law by the Mayor in February 2005. This legislation enables the Landmarks Preservation Commission to prevent the willful destruction of our City’s treasured landmarks by unscrupulous property owners. Tony’s legislation was strongly supported by 46 preservation and civic groups including the Landmarks Conservancy, the Historic Districts Council and the National Historic Trust.

Tony has been leading the fight citywide against overdevelopment, the proliferation of “McMansions,” and other major abuses of the building and zoning codes. He helped create new zoning districts such as R2A, which prevents the construction of “McMansions,” rezoned major portions of his district as well as numerous other neighborhoods in the City, and enacted citywide amendments to the “Community Facilities” section all in an effort to preserve the unique residential character and quality of life in neighborhoods throughout the City. His efforts have resulted in the first real changes in the City’s zoning code in over 40 years.

As Chair of the Italian American Caucus, Tony has promoted Italian culture and heritage through an annual celebration at City Hall in October during Italian American Heritage Month. Tony has also been in the forefront of fighting the negative stereotyping of Italian Americans.

In addition to his efforts to stop out-of-character construction, he has been leading the battle to reform the Department of Buildings and the Board of Standards and Appeals. Tony is also the acknowledged leader in the City Council for landmark preservation, animal rights and good government. He has been a fighter for Veterans issues and benefits.

He is the only Council Member to refuse the “lulu,” which is an anti-good government practice by which leadership controls members’ votes. He fought against and subsequently refused the 25% pay raise, which he considered unethical. Tony is a strong advocate for more reform and transparency not only in the City Council, but throughout City Government.

Prior to his election, Tony served in numerous volunteer capacities as a civic activist and was a member of Queens Community Board #7. For his numerous volunteer civic endeavors on behalf of all New Yorkers, in 1997 Tony was awarded New York State’s Community Service Award from nominations received across the entire State.

Since his election, Tony has been honored by numerous fraternal organizations, civic associations, sports and school/educational groups. He has received awards from the Garibaldi Meucci Museum on Staten Island and the Columbia Associations of the New York Police Department and the New York City Transit Authority. He has received such honors as the Friend In High Places Award from the Historic District Council, the Community Mayor’s Humanitarian Award, the coveted Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, and the Benefactors’ Award from the Alley Pond Environmental Center.

Tony is a graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York. He is a lifelong Queens resident and currently resides in Whitestone, Queens with his wife Judith.