Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. represents Astoria and the surrounding communities and serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee. As Chair, he has led the fight to stop cuts to the NYPD, put more officers in our local precincts and for New York City to get the money it deserves from the state and federal governments.
As the father of two young girls, he knows the importance of a safe learning environment. He wrote the law that helped put security cameras in all New York City public schools. He also sponsored legislation which would require the New York City Department of Education to provide security measures for nonpublic schools, and would allow schoolchildren to carry cellular phones to and from school. He has given millions of dollars to schools in his district to improve facilities, install computers and ensure that afterschool programming is never an afterthought.
Dubbed ‘The Man Who Hates Graffiti’ by the New York Times and ‘Graffiti Public Enemy No. 1’ by the Staten Island Advance, Vallone has waged war against graffiti vandals. Recognized worldwide as an anti-graffiti crusader, Vallone’s legislation has made it illegal to sell graffiti tools to minors and imposed a requirement that affects larger buildings and stores to clean graffiti from their property. Vallone expanded the ever-growing graffiti-fighting arsenal to include regulating the sale of etching acid and pens – often used to scratch surfaces.
Perhaps Vallone’s most lasting visible legacy is his law requiring that all new roll-down security gates be see-through. As foreboding solid gates are phased-out, canvasses for graffiti are eliminated and replaced with a vibrant streetscape.
Vallone’s legislation is as varied and diverse as the community he represents – ranging from banning trans fats and establishing plastic bag recycling to his recent efforts to remove the addition of fluoride in our water supply.
He has been honored for his work to protect our most vulnerable, which includes awards from the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, the Immaculate Conception Youth Program (ICYP), the League of Humane Voters, and countless other organizations.
Vallone has led the fight against the proliferation of power plants and represented C.H.O.K.E.(Coalition Helping Organize a Kleaner Environment) and Astoria residents in court, winning a major victory against the New York Power Authority that lead to the closing of the Charles Poletti Power Plant in 2010, the worst polluter in the city.
Vallone got his start at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, where he successfully prosecuted thousands of criminals and compiled an impressive trial record of 40 top count convictions against one acquittal.
An accomplished athlete, Vallone was invited to play against the Chinese National Ping-Pong team on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, was Co-Captain of the Astoria Civic City Champion Football and Softball teams and continues to play as much indoor and beach volleyball as his busy schedule permits. He is also a professional musician, playing four instruments, an avid scuba diver and is often seen riding his motorcycle or bicycle around Astoria, where he was born and raised. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham College and from Fordham Law School. He has two daughters, Catherine and Caroline.