Tony Avella for Mayor

On Saturday, November 15th, Tony announced that he has invoked the “Sponsor’s Privilege” rule of the City Council in order to have a public hearing on his Resolution 930/2007 (aka the Holiday Display Reso.), which would require the New York City Department of Education to amend its holiday display policy for public elementary and secondary schools to include a nativity scene or crèche. Currently, DOE’s policy allows the Menorah and Islamic Star and Crescent to be displayed during the winter holiday season so long as they are displayed together.

As Mayor, Tony would instruct the Department of Education to allow nativity scenes in public elementary and secondary schools.

Photo: Tony joined by supporters on the steps of City Hall.

On Monday, Tony Avella denounced recent reports that the Ravitch Commission is considering asking the City to implement tolls on the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, and Queensboro Bridges.

“Despite the ever present need for additional revenue, the imposition of tolls on the East River Bridges is not an acceptable revenue generating option,” stated Avella. “In the current economic climate, New Yorkers are in no position to face another huge increase in their daily living expenses. Adding tolls to any of these bridges would have a devastating effect on working and middle class families and small business.”

“Given the fact that New Yorkers are already the highest taxed citizens in the country, I urge the Ravitch Commission to reconsider implementing tolls and concentrate on developing other sources of revenue. It should be the responsibility of the leaders of the city to find ways of increasing revenues to improve mass transit without placing the fiscal burden upon those who can least afford it,” concluded Avella.

Tony has been a long-standing opponent of a toll system and will not support East River Tolls, as Mayor.

Add your name to the growing list of New Yorkers who support the city’s term limit laws. Type your name, email address and home address (to prove you are a New York City voter) in the online petition, below:

Dear City Elected Officials,

I am disturbed to learn that behind-the-scenes discussions are taking place to overturn the city’s current term limit laws. The thought that City officials are once again ignoring the wishes of New York City voters by plotting to overturn term limits is offensive. New Yorkers are grateful for the years of service you have given to our City, but the time has come for you to step down and allow our term limits laws to work.

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Council Member Tony Avella and Dan Jacoby, an organizer with Democracy for
NYC, joined together yesterday on the steps of City Hall to announce that Tony will introduce legislation entitled “Clean Money, Clean Elections” at the next stated City Council meeting. If enacted, this legislation would allow candidates for city office to qualify for full public financing of their campaigns. Similar campaign finance programs already exist across the country in states such as Connecticut, Maine and Arizona, and in cities including Portland, Oregon and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Twenty years after the creation of our partial public funding program for local campaigns, the system has not only proven to be ineffective, but is also failing,” Tony said. “Under the current program, private fundraising is mostly from large, outside donors and bundlers. Under ‘Clean Money, Clean Elections’ private fundraising is strictly limited to small donations from constituents. ‘Clean Money, Clean Elections’ takes the election process away from special interests and expensive consultants, and gives it back to the candidates and the voters of the city of New York.”

Avella added, “I believe that the implementation of ‘Clean Money, Clean Election’ would end the corruption and unethical behavior that has permeated politics in this City. It is a change that is long overdue.” If the legislation is not passed in the City Council, Tony will make “Clean Money, Clean Elections” a priority, as Mayor.

How would it work?
Example:

*Current Program: City Council candidates must raise $5,000 from a minimum of 75 contributors and need 900 petition signatures to get on the ballot. Once on the ballot, the candidate could receive up to a maximum $88,550 in public funds. The candidate’s spending limit is $161,000 for the primary as well as another $161,000 spending limit for the general election.

*Clean Money, Clean Elections a City Council candidate would only have to raise 500 donations of $5 ($2,500) to receive full public financing of $100,000 for the primary and another $100,000 for the general election. In addition, to the obvious benefits of reducing the influence of special interests and lobbyists, under this new program, the total allowable spending for City offices would be reduced and ballot access would be easier, allowing independent candidates to run for office.

Following the second fatal crane accident in months, Tony blasted the Department of Buildings (DOB) on Friday for its continued failure to ensure safety at construction sites.

“The Mayor and DOB need to act immediately to shut down every site that currently employs these cranes until a full inspection is conducted. It is unbelievable that DOB’s new policy to inspect and monitor these cranes was only a temporary effort. How absurd is that! These cranes need to be monitored on a continuing basis.”

“A citywide halt of all crane construction activities is essential until the City can truly make sure that all work is occurring in a safe and proper manner. Clearly, DOB failed its mandate to do so during their recent citywide sweep after the last accident.”

By 7:00 Friday evening, the Bloomberg Administration halted all crane construction activities, Citywide.

“When is City government finally going to ensure that New Yorkers are safe – how many people have to die before the City reins in the out-of-control development?”

As Mayor, Tony will make safe, sustainable development in our city a top priority.

Okay, it’s true, we are either nearly 6 months past the Holiday season or a little more than 6 months away from the Holiday season, depending on your point-of-view. That doesn’t make this topic any less important.

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has a holiday display policy in public elementary and secondary schools that allows for the display of the Menorah and the Star and Crescent. Yet, for Christians during this important time of year, the only symbol DOE will allow is a Christmas tree.

Tony felt that DOE’s policy was discriminatory towards Christians. He believes, as many Christians do, that a Christmas tree is not representative of the religious significance of Christmas.

As a result, as a Council Member, Tony introduced Resolution 930-2007 in the City Council which calls upon DOE to amend their policy and allow for a Nativity Scene to be displayed in the same manner as is now permitted for the Menorah and Star and Crescent.

As Mayor, Tony will instruct DOE to allow the Nativity Scene to be displayed in schools.

On Thursday, May 15th, Tony held a press conference on the steps of City Hall, calling for the city to adopt a “Cents Per Gallon” Gas Sales Tax Rate and for the creation of an Energy Volatility Task Force.

Since 2006 a State Law has allowed the city to abandon a “percentage per gallon” gas tax (which generates higer revenue as the price of oil rises) in favor of a flatter “cents per gallon” sales tax rate.

“The cost of oil has increased tremendously over the past year, soaring to records of $127 a barrel. The City of New York needs to realize that by failing to opt into a “cents per gallon” gas tax, it is reaping a huge windfall in sales tax revenue while average New Yorkers get hurt at the pump,” stated Avella. “Although the City cannot change the price of oil, we can offer New Yorkers a break by correcting the sales tax inequity and rate.”

In August of 2005, as Council Member, Tony introduced Resolution #1149 urging the State Legislature to allow the City to opt into a “cents per gallon” sales tax rate. Unfortunately, despite the Resolution being passed unanimously by the City Council and the New York State Legislature amending New York’s Tax Law, Mayor Bloomberg never elected to abandon the “percentage per gallon” sales tax rate.

During the press conference, Tony also called for the creation of an Energy Volatility Task Force, which would propose changes in city policies and procedures to mitigate the effects of huge fluctuations in price and the availability of oil.

“As a City we must begin to realize that rising oil prices are not just an
aberration and will only continue to worsen. It is absolutely necessary that we create this task force to begin to formulate real solutions and contingency plans for anticipated price increases in oil in the next decade to over $200 and possibly $300 per barrel,” stated Avella.

“Cities including Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California have already created energy task forces and are proactively addressing these extremely important issues. New York city should join Portland and San Francisco at the forefront on implementing plans for the future.”

As Mayor, Tony would take proactive steps to change the gas sales tax to a “cents per gallon” model and would immediately, upon taking office, form an Energy Volatility Task Force.

Tony Avella is the leading advocate of animal rights and welfare in City government. As a City Council Member, he authored several important pieces of legislation to protect animals.

In the 2007 the League of Humane Voters of New York City (LOHV-NYC) “New York City Council Humane Scorecard” Tony received a 100% rating with two of his bills highlighted in their report: Reso. 497 “Humane Education” and Intro. 13 “Pets in Housing”.

In 2007, Tony received an award from the LOHV-NYC for his efforts on behalf of animals. In May 2008, Tony was honored by In Defense of Animals with a “Companion Animal Guardian Award.”

A brief description of key pieces of animal rights/welfare legislation authored by Tony follows:

Horse Drawn Carriage Ban

The purpose of Tony’s proposed Horse Drawn Carriage ban is to repeal all provisions within the administrative code that authorize the operation of horse-drawn carriages within New York City.

On September 14, 2007, yet another horse was killed after being startled on the street. The horse died after bolting across Central Park South, colliding with a tree and breaking her leg. At the same time, another horse waiting in the area was startled by the commotion and also bolted down the block, ending up on the hood of a car stopped in traffic. Luckily this horse caused only physical damage to the car and not to itself or the drivers of either the carriage or the car. This most recent death was preceded by two others in January and September of 2006, bringing the total number of carriage horse deaths to 3 in less than two years.

These horses are exposed to traffic conditions that are so congested, it is extremely likely that more accidents will occur, more horses will die and the public will continue to be put at risk.

Tony believes that the time has come to ban the operation of these businesses within New York City. The romanticized idea of enjoying a carriage horse ride through the streets of Manhattan can no longer justify the inhumane treatment and risk of serious injury or death to these animals or to the public at large.

Pets In Housing Bill

This legislation would clarify the rights of pet owners in New York City multiple dwellings.

Currently, tenants who have had pets for years in the same apartment with the owners’ knowledge are not protected when they get a new pet. This is an extreme hardship for many tenants whose quality of life is greatly enhanced by pets, and who have been forced to give up a pet or move.

This legislation would restore, in part, the right of rental tenants in multiple dwellings to ensure that once the no-pet clause is waived for one pet, the rental tenant may replace that pet or pets without being subject to eviction for violating the no-pet lease clause.

HEART Resolution

This Resolution calls upon the New York City (NYC) Department of Education (DOE) to follow the New York State Education Law, which requires instruction on the humane treatment and protection of animals. Tony’s resolution directs DOE to require all NYC elementary schools to teach humane education as part of the yearly curriculum.

<b>Photo:</b>Tony Avella; Mr. Tony Chiappelloni, Presidents of Fido Brooklyn, and various participants at the Fido Coffee Bark.

The city’s Department of Buildings has been in the news a lot, lately, from tragic construction-site accidents to the high-profile resignation of Commissioner Patricia Lancaster. Tony has made overdevelopment a major issue in his Mayoral campaign and reforming the Department of Buildings is a key part of this agenda. Below, Tony has outlined seven major problems with the agency which must be addressed to ensure that our city is developed safely and legally:

1. DOB must be prohibited from interpreting the zoning code. This responsibility should be the sole jurisdiction of the City’s Department of City Planning, which writes the code.

2. DOB must be given the power and latitude to prohibit repeat offenders (developers and/or contractors who violate the building and zoning code on a consistent basis) from doing construction in the City. As a Council Member, Tony introduced a “Negligent Developers” bill, Int. 697/2008, to specifically address situations where repeat offenders continuously violate the law yet continue to be given construction permits.

3. The Self-Certification procedure must be abolished. This process has led to rampant abuse. While the program remains in existence, DOB must move to revoke the license of any architect who files false or incorrect plans under the self-certification process.

4. In order to deter illegal conversions, Tony introduced a resolution before the City Council, , asking the State Legislature to increase the penalties for illegal conversions (which are often “self-certified” projects) that result in serious injury or death to felony counts.

5. DOB must be required to act on behalf of and represent adjacent property owners who have been victimized by unscrupulous developers and improper construction practices.

6. DOB must improve its ability to respond to allegations of building code violations in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, as a result of DOB’s limited number of inspectors, unscrupulous developers regularly flout the law knowing that it is unlikely that they will be caught in the act. Recently, Tony called on DOB to develop and institute a “Citizen Watch Affidavit Program”, which would allow average New Yorkers to report building code infractions, complete an affidavit, and have that affidavit treated in the same light as if a DOB inspector had made the report.

7. To ensure our safety, workers on construction sites should be union-trained or part of an approved apprentice program. Tony is currently working on legislation to ensure that workers on sites larger than one/two/three family homes are properly trained and certified.

Tony will be appearing on News Forum with Gabe Pressman on Sunday, April 20. The show runs from 6:30-7:00 AM, so if you want to catch it, you may want to go to bed early on Saturday.

Or, you can watch some video clips of the show right here! There are three clips available. Click on the links, below, to watch:

* Clip One

* Clip Two

* Clip Three