Tony Avella for Mayor

Today is an important day in the history of the United States. Tony wishes to congratulate President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden on their stunning election victory, last night.

Tony also congratulates Joe Addabbo on his victory in the 15th Senate District.

Today, the 2009 Mayoral race officially begins to heat up. Tony needs your help now to make his campaign a success!

To volunteer for his campaign or to host a house party, please click here and fill out the form.

To donate to the campaign, click here. If you wish to donate by check, please print out this form and include it in the envelope.

Stay tuned for regular campaign updates on this site.

Tony has already voted today and you should too. If you haven’t already voted, please take the time today to do so.

Tomorrow, the 2009 race for Mayor officially begins. The Revolution Starts…Now!

Last week, Tony Avella received Mike Bloomberg’s “reconciliatory” telephone call, following the vote to extend term limits.

“While I appreciated receiving Mr. Bloomberg’s phone call, I told him that what he did (extending term limits) was clearly a disgrace,” Avella stated.

“Although he tried to rationalize his actions as a measure that provided voters with a choice, I told him he can justify his own actions however he wants; but what he did was still wrong and he dealt a fatal blow to democracy in this city.”

“The voters of our great city had indicated, through public referendums in 1993 and 1996, firm support for limiting the terms of City officials to two consecutive four year terms. Regardless of how Mr. Bloomberg attempts to justify overturning term limits legislatively, the simple fact is that he ignored the voice of the people,” stated Avella.

“I assured the Mayor that I have and will always put the best interests of the people of the city above the political fray,” concluded Avella.

Yesterday, Tony responded to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s reversal on term limits, as she announced her support for Mayor Bloomberg’s Term Limits Bill. The Bill, which would allow officials to seek a third term in office, is currently being considered before the City Council. As of last year, Quinn had firmly indicated her support for maintaining the current term limits law that was approved by public referendum in 1993 and 1995.

“It is not surprising to learn that the Speaker has yet again reversed her position on term limits and is supporting the Mayor’s plan. The Mayor and the Speaker’s political posturing on this issue is extremely shameful and should not be tolerated by the public. What they are attempting to do by overturning the will of the people represents a fatal blow to democracy in this City,” stated Avella.

Council Member Tony Avella, in conjunction with Council Member Annabel Palma, has introduced Resolution #1640 asking the New York State Legislature to amend the Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) to give the City the authority to provide in its Charter that any change in the City’s Term Limits Law must be subject to voter referendum.

Avella has firmly indicated that if this effort to extend term limits is successful and allows current City officials to stay in office – he will not serve. “One of the campaign promises I made in 2001 was to do whatever I could to restore the people’s faith in their elected officials. I will fulfill the covenant made with the people of my district and the City – eight years and out. I can only hope that in the end, both the Executive and Legislative branches of City government will take the same approach.”

Avella encourages all New Yorkers to express their views on this extremely important issue by testifying before the City Council Government Operations Committee. There is a hearing schedule for today (Friday, October 17th) at City Hall.

Tony Avella’s 2009 mayoral campaign will have a table at the Myrtle Avenue Street Fair in Ridgewood, Queens, on Sunday, September 21st, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The campaign’s table will be on Myrtle Avenue between Seneca Avenue and Catalpa Avenue. Volunteers (and Tony) will be handing out literature and asking for small donations. Please let us know if you can volunteer for a few hours. If you are interested, please email the campaign at TonyAvella2009@Gmail.com, so we can plan accordingly.

Thanks for your help!

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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The campaign will be getting the word out at the following, upcoming street fairs:

Saturday, August 30th - Greenpoint Avenue Festival, Queens - our table will be on Greenpoint Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets - from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, September 6th - Dutch Kills Street Festival, Queens - our table will be on 36th Avenue between 29th and 33rd Streets (exact location TBD) - from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We will be giving out literature and asking for small donations. Please let us know if you can drop by and volunteer for a few hours. Contact us by email (TonyAvella2009@gmail.com) or leave a comment, below.

On Sunday, August 10th, Tony and members of his campaign wil be at the Steinway Street Fair (Astoria, Queens) from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The table will be set up in front of 30-95 Steinway Street (between 30th and 31st).

If you have some time on Sunday, we are looking for volunteers to help distribute literature and ask for small campaign donations. Please let us know if you can volunteer for a few hours by leaving a comment, below, or email the campaign at tonyavella2009@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there!

Yesterday, Tony walked out of the City Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee public hearing on a slate of proposals to
reform the Department of Buildings. These reforms were introduced in the aftermath of several fatal construction accidents.

“These so-called reforms do absolutely nothing,” he said. “I can no longer stand idly by in a hearing on legislation that enables the Mayor and the City Council Speaker to delude the public into believing that City government is addressing illegal and unsafe construction practices throughout the City,”

Tony walked out during Speaker Quinn’s comments on the legislation at the start of the hearing.

“For too long, Speaker Quinn has held up building/construction/zoning reforms in the City Council because of politics, real estate interests, and her own political agenda. Now that the cameras are focused on these issues, all of a sudden she seems to be interested. Unfortunately, no real reform has been forthcoming.”

Tony has already announced a series of reforms to the Department of Buildings that he will act on immediately, as Mayor. You can learn more about these reforms by clicking here.

Today, New York City’s trans fat ban goes into effect, citywide. Yesterday, Tony characterized New York City’s trans fat ban as nothing more than nanny government.

Avella, the only Council Member to vote against the trans fat ban stated, “I am sure that the Mayor is extremely pleased with the trans fat ban that goes into effect tomorrow. However, this is just another example of Mayor Bloomberg’s nanny government. Just how far is the City going to go in dictating how we conduct our everyday lives? The trans fat issue should be one of personal responsibility and not legislation.”

What’s your opinion on this issue? Leave a comment, below, or email Tony at tonyavella2009@gmail.com.

Photo via Wikipedia.