QBP_PeterVallone

7/27/2019 QBP_PeterVallone

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2013 Queens BPQuestionnaire

20 Jay Street, Suite 830 Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tel (212) 796-4200 Fax (646) 349-3893website: www.gothamist.com
http://www.gothamist.com/http://www.gothamist.com/


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Instructions: Gothamist plans to interview all candidates for citywide and boroughwide office in2013. This survey will give us and our readers an overview of each candidates positions onissues of particular import to our audience of young New York voters. For each question, pleasegive a a short response outlining your candidates position. You may include a link to longerposition statements at the bottom of each response, which we will include when we publish thepiece. If you do not wish to answer any question, please specify no comment. If you have anyquestions, please contact us.

Candidate Overview

1.What are the top challenges facing Queens right now? How will you use the limited power ofthe Queens Borough Presidency to solve these problems?

Public Safety-- As the Chair of the Councils Public Safety Committee since 2002, I have

used bold and imaginative ideas to reduce crime, keep out City safe from terror, and to

make our city a great place to live and work. During my tenure as Chair, crime in New

York City has dropped 35% citywide. Murders are down 60%, burglaries are down 50%

and felony assaults are down 20%, just to name a few. Just last year, New York City

experienced the lowest number of murders ever recorded in our history. The FBI rates

New York City as the safest large city in the United States of America. I have increased

punishment for gun traffickers, graffiti vandals, rowdy sports fans and unscrupulous

nightclub owners, all while working with the NYPD to ensure our officers are properly

trained and equipped to enforce the law. I have fought against cuts to the policedepartment, and with the threat of terrorism constantly hanging over New Yorkers heads,

I have led the fight to secure more money for anti-terror patrols, first responders and the

technology needed to stop a terrorist plot before it starts. I have demanded that Albany

pass tougher laws against sexual offenders, especially those that threaten our children. I

have also created a neighborhood watch in Astoria, Queens. Simply put, our streets and

our families are safer today because of my efforts as a City Councilman. As the only

candidate with experience keeping communities safe, I will continue to make public

safety my number one priority.

Economic Development- As the only candidate for Borough President with experience

running a small business, I understand firsthand how government can sometimes

overburden business owners with excessive bureaucratic red tape. For ten years prior to

being elected, I ran my familys law firm, Vallone and Vallone, which was founded in

1932. As a Council Member, I sponsored legislation to create a new program called NYC

Business Link, which will direct business owners questions about permitting and

licensing through a central coordinator in an effort to streamline small business

development. I have repeatedly voted against legislation that places unneeded restrictions


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on small business owners. In an effort to reduce negative interactions between business

owners and city inspectors, myself and my colleagues passed legislation to require city

agencies to recommend changes to current laws so that business owners can obtain

warnings instead of excessive fines for non-dangerous violations; to require inspectors to

attend customer service training and to hand out a business owners Bill of Rights during

inspections.If elected as Queens Borough President, I will continue to be a voice for small business

owners. I will fight against over regulation and the enforcement of unfair, bloated fines

which have stifled the growth of our small businesses.

Environment- I have always been an environmental conservationist. I am a strong believer

in protecting the environment, both for ourselves and for our future generations. I have

encouraged the use of energy efficient policies such as clear air taxis and green

buildings in order to decrease our carbon footprint. Before getting elected to the City

Council, I was counsel for the anti-smog group C.H.O.K.E. (Coalition Helping Organize

a Kleaner Environment), which led the movement to reduce the harmful smoke billowing

from Astorias power plants. With C.H.O.K.E., I filed a lawsuit that led to the eventual

closure of the Charles Poletti power plant, the worst polluter in the state. A pioneer of

clean air legislation, myself, with my colleagues, passed the first bill ever to limit CO2

emissions in a major city. I have been a strong proponent of PlaNYC - an unprecedented

effort by Mayor Bloomberg to prepare the city for one million more residents, strengthen

our economy, combat climate change, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

The Plan brought together over 25 City agencies to work toward the vision of a greener,

greater New York through over 400 initiatives including MillionTreesNYC and

construction on the number 7 subway line extension. In addition, I wrote the landmarkPlastic Bag Recycling Act, which established film and plastic bag recycling in New York

City. Consistently receiving high grades on his voting record from the New York League

of Conservation Voters, Peter certainly understands the need to protect our environment

and has delivered. As our Borough President, I will preserve our parks, wetlands and

wildlife, and will continue to build upon his accomplishments in the City Council having

served as a Member of the Councils Environmental Protection Committee for over 11

years.

Redeveloping Far Rockaway- My public safety committee was the first to hold two pre-

hurricane hearings, in 2005 and 2009, entitled Are we ready for a Hurricane calling onthe city to have a plan in place to deal with all aspects of a major storm. I held the first

City Council post-hurricane Sandy hearing where I grilled city officials on issues ranging

from disaster recovery to planning for the next major storm. I have introduced legislation

on the federal level to allow houses of worship damaged by Sandy to receive aid from

FEMA. The City Council has passed bills to waive city fees for permits, applications and

inspections for businesses hurt by Hurricane Sandy. My bill to increase penalties for


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looting during state of emergencies became law in March and I am constantly working

with the affected areas of Queens to provide more assistance, I will continue to work with

unions, civic group and local residents to rebuild responsibly and study our options of

protecting the area from another storm and protect the homes of the current residents.

Education- Schools are the ships that sail our children into promising futures. I believe

that in order to create a strong learning environment, not only must we have the best

teachers in our classrooms; we need to ensure that each school in New York City is a

bastion of security. I wrote the law that mandated security cameras outside every public

school. I am the prime sponsor of legislation that would require the New York City Police

and Education departments to provide security measures for non-public schools, and I

wrote the law to allow school children to carry cellular phones to and from school for

safety purposes. I have sponsored legislation to keep sexual predators far away from

school grounds, and to notify parents about the presence of these criminals when they

move into our neighborhoods. In addition to safety, I have given millions of dollars to

local schools to improve infrastructure, classroom technology, and to ensure that after-

school programming remains intact. I authored a resolution calling upon the Department

of Education to institute a policy that would set guidelines to limit homework given to

elementary and middle school children and would include a homework-free night to

allow children to participate in other activities, exercise and spend quality time with their

families. In the face of every child, I see my two young daughters both promising

students who have attended both public and private Queenss schools making me strive

to push for academic achievement for all children in New York City. As Borough

President, I will continue to invest in our children, build new schools to ease

overcrowding and help ensure that every child receives an A+ education.

2.How would you distinguish your future administration from the present one run by QBP HelenMarshall?

I would model my future administration after some of the current borough presidents.

For example, I would publish more policy reports, submit legislation when needed,

advocate loudly, and continue to support education.

Personal Questions

1. Do you rent or own your home? Own.

2.Do you have a pet?

Yes, a dog named Gus Gus.

3. If you have children, do/did they attend public schools?

Yes, I had two daughters attend public schools.


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the case of Flushing Meadow Park. If a private entity occupies a park, it should be

responsible in maintaining that park since it that private entity is receiving public

subsidizes.

4.How would your development policy differ from the one put forward by Helen Marshall? Inparticular, please comment on your position regarding:

a. Bellrose/Floral Park/Glen Oaks Rezoning

During the rezoning of my local area, I worked with the Dept. of City Planning and

the community boards closely to make sure the low density residential areas were

protected. I will continue to work for rezoning which will protect the character if

our Queens neighborhoods by preventing overdevelopment and out if character

development while encouraging some development in appropriate areas.

b.Willets Point Redevelopment

I have an issue with the use of eminent domain and to take private property for

commercial purposes. I believe Willets Point is a unique circumstance due it lack

of infrastructure and neglect. While I support development of this area, the

community board has not fully weighed the issue yet. While the City Council voted

to approve the development, the plan we were presented with was significantly

different than the present one and I believe the project should come before the City

Council again.

c. Hunters Point South Development

I believe that when a large density project is being proposed, the plans should

include infrastructure. I believe all communities need green space, schools,

libraries and community centers for high density developments to be ideal.

d.Racino at Aqueduct

I believe that if a full legal gambling casino were to come to Queens, the Aqueduct

would be the appropriate place for the project. I will advocate for a public-

private partnership to directly benefit the local communities surrounding the

Racino and request more police and emergency services to address the large

amount of people attending.

Transparency and Good Government

1.Should New York judges continue to be selected by Democratic Party bosses in eachborough?

No.

2. Queens has experienced a number of political corruption scandals recently- how will you usethe power of the QBP office to clean up the Queens political establishment?


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I have proposed legislation banning any public funding to organizations which employ

any family or government staffers. I will continue to use any office Im in to speak

loudly against any type of corruption. I will continue to lead by example in this

borough. Its important to look at who were the mentors of all prospective elected

officials. What my father has instilled in me, is solid ethics and integrity while serving

as an elected official. The Vallones will never abuse the publics trust.

Documents

QBP_PeterVallone