 Borough President Vito Fossella stood in front of the soaring wings of the Postcards Memorial, which perfectly frame the spot where the Twin Towers once stood across the harbor, to reflect and remember the 267 Staten Islanders who were lost 23 years ago when the blue-sky morning turned black, breaking our skyline and our hearts forever. Hundreds gathered for the annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony amid a backdrop of American flags and the Tower Of Lights shimmering in the distance. “Twenty-three years ago was a day like today and a bunch of folks, many of them who we know just wanted to go about their life, and as we know by now, they didn’t come home,” said Borough President Fossella. “All they wanted was a life of happiness, a life of joy, to see their kids go to school, to hopefully see their kids get married, and maybe see their grandchildren -- but they didn’t get to experience those joys and those blessings. We are never going to forget their memory, their existence, their spirit. Their spirits will never die.” The processional was performed by the Staten Island Pipes & Drums and the colors were presented by U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York at Fort Wadsworth, the U.S. Army North East Medical Area, and the Fort Wadsworth Readiness Support Group. Rebecca Quilla sang the National Anthem. Bishop Peter Byrne, pastor of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, led the invocation, and Bishop Victor Brown, pastor of Mount Sinai United Christian Church, led the benediction. Gov. Kathy Hochul also offered remarks. Bells tolled, heads bowed, and tears were shed as the names of those lost on Sept. 11 and in the years since from 9/11-related illnesses were read one-by-one by their family members while an FDNY tugboat sprayed fountains of water into the harbor. The ceremony concluded with the Tottenville High School Ceremonial Taps Unit as family members gently placed roses at the Postcards Memorial and ran their fingers over the names of their loved ones forever etched into the silhouettes of the wing’s graceful curves, evoking notes sent to heaven. Our thoughts were also with those who were at the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed into an empty field in Shanksville, Pa.  Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by local elected officials, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726 President Daniel Cassella, and concerned Staten Island commuters to call out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the poor state of affairs of the local bus transit system at a press conference outside the Yukon Bus Depot.
"This is really a call to arms to the MTA to listen to the people of Staten Island, listen to the commuters who suffer disproportionately, and help us out," said Borough President Fossella during a press conference outside of the Yukon Avenue Bus Depot. Many commuters routinely report buses failing to provide reliable service and complete their routes, disrupting their daily commute. The significant number of buses in disrepair, lead to service disruptions across the borough. Currently, 304 of the 798 MTA buses serving Staten Island are either out of service or in need of repair. This situation causes frequent delays and excessive wait times for commuters. He emphasized, “If you add up all the buses on Staten Island, almost half the buses don’t go out because of mechanical issues.” The issue is partly attributed to reduced overtime for bus operators and mechanics, according to Cassella. This shortage of manpower has resulted in buses being sent out with problems such as non-functional air conditioning, broken signage, and, in extreme cases, even roaches. The pending closure of the Meredith Avenue bus depot will further strain the system and threaten to offload 75 buses and roughly 130 personnel to the other three overwhelmed depots. It will drastically disrupt traffic and bus service across the island.  Borough President Vito Fossella joined with his fellow elected officials to condemn the attack of a 62-year-old man in Sunnyside and to ask for legislative intervention in prosecuting those under the age of 18.
“We’re here today to call attention to something that happened a few weeks ago right down the block in broad daylight -- and it is frankly something that should rattle everybody across Staten Island and frankly across the city,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the corner of Clove Road and Howard Avenue, where the incident took place. He recounted that the man was out for his daily walk, minding his own business when he was surrounded by a “pack of individuals and was brutally attacked” on Monday, July 15. “In fact, while he was surrounded, he did what most people would do and tried to get away,” said Borough President Fossella, who watched a two-minute clip of the attack which shows a group of nine following the victim. “So, he ran across Clove Road and instead of letting the man go, one of the pack of these individuals chased him. He was knocked down, lost one or two teeth, was taken to the hospital where he needed surgery -- and what is even worse, the man is petrified of living here, so he is going to move.” A 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy have been charged with assault. The case will be handled in Family Court, which led the elected officials to call for a change to the Raise the Age law. The law changed the age at which a child can be prosecuted as an adult to 18. Those younger than 18 are prosecuted in Family Court. It was signed into law in 2017. “There were two arrests and we hope, there will be more,” said Borough President Fossella. “This could have been anyone’s grandparent, anyone’s child. And just as important, we don’t know if there are going to be a consequence because the trend has been 'well, they are just kids, let them go, no consequences.’ These are kids doing adult things, doing evil things. That guy could have been killed running across Clove Road -- you don’t know what could have happened.” Borough President Fossella said Family Court judges often aren't given a full accounting of the defendant. “When it goes to Family Court, the judges, from my understanding, is that they don’t know the history of the people they’ve been assigned,” he said. “So, these kids could have been doing this every day. And, then what will happen, if there is a consequence or if there is a penalty, ultimately that penalty on their record will be expunged. We will do anything we can for the individual who was attacked. Fortunately, I hope this provides a foundation of change in the direction we’re going -- to ensure that there is some accountability, and someone’s grandparent or child can walk the streets of Staten Island and the streets of the city safely.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, Council Member Joseph Borelli and the South Shore Business Improvement District partnered to beautify the area surrounding the Great Kills Veterans Memorial. They installed decorative and colorful planters after Borough Hall was contacted by the caretakers of the memorial who asked for help in maintaining the site. The planters will also serve as protective barriers. “Here in Great Kills, we have a pretty rich history and appreciation for the men and women who served in our armed forces – and in some cases have given the ultimate sacrifice,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference. “The idea was to establish this memorial to pay honor to their memory as we do every day. As a practical matter, there was some concern about some damage from people who come through here with a truck or a car.” The memorial consists of five, two-ton black granite slabs representing the service branches of the American military: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. It was dedicated in 2001, adjacent to the Staten Island Railway Station at the intersection of Nelson Avenue and Brower Court, which was the starting point for the Great Kills Memorial Parade. The parade ended its run in 2013. “I’d like to take a step back and reflect on what this truly means,” said Borough President Fossella. “We love the people behind us, and most importantly, we love what this country is all about -- and this country would not be the United States of America, but for the sacrifices of the people who gave us our freedoms."  Addressing Quality of Life Issues Surrounding Several In-Need Service Centers In Port Richmond8/19/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by members of the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance and residents of apartments at 36 Hamilton Ave. to address the growing quality-of-life concerns surrounding several nearby in-need service care centers.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been 243 calls to 911 and more than 18 arrests at the housing complex at 1544 Castleton Ave. The arrests stemmed from issues relating to drug use, trespassing, harassment, attempted robbery, and attempted assault. “Every time, the good people of Port Richmond try to do something to improve the quality-of-life for their neighbors, some entity comes in and tries to destroy it,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the corner of Castleton Avenue and Park Avenue. “We owe it to the business owners and the homeowners and the people renting these apartments to ensure that they have a better quality- of-life, not a worse quality-of-life. We’re calling upon those that control this entity and the agencies involved to stand up and defend and support the hardworking taxpayers of Port Richmond and not turn a blind eye and ignore their calls.” Borough President Fossella also addressed concerns of loitering, harassment, and other disorderly conduct at a drop-in center at 150 Richmond Terrace in St. George. He said there has been a lack of communication with the drop-in center’s leadership and the City Department of Homeless Services. “We have met for two years on a regular basis trying to address these issues,” said Borough President Fossella. “Not only has it not gotten better, it’s actually gotten worse. So, we’ve made every good faith effort for them to address the needs and to fix the problems and it hasn’t happened.” While acknowledging the “crucial services” the social centers provide, he said the city “has an obligation to ensure the quality-of-life for these people who just want to work hard, take care of their families, make a living and walk around their community without interruption, without being threatened -- it is something so basic and it seems to be lost.” Borough President Vito Fossella Allocates $45K To Sunrise Day Camp For Transportation Costs8/15/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella announced an allocation of $45,000 to the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp to fund transportation for campers and their siblings.
Sunrise Day Camp is the world’s first full-summer day camp provided free-of-charge for children with cancer and their siblings. The camp is administered by the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island and is the only day camp of its kind in New York City. Located on the grounds of Staten Island Academy, the camp serves over 150 children each year with sports, music, arts & crafts, swimming, and other activities. “There is something very special and very precious that occurs on this campus every summer for about six-and-a-half weeks,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference on the last day of camp. “For these young children with cancer, it gives them not only the ability to be independent, but it gives their parents an opportunity to have a level of comfort that perhaps, things are going to be OK. The staff and the counselors give these kids a ray of light and a ray of hope into their day." Lee Guttenplan, the JCC’s chief operating officer, said "joy is the simplest form of gratitude," noting the joy on the faces of the campers and a sense of relief on the faces of their parents. “We get to see the impact of this funding everyday as children come off the bus with big smiles ready for a day of safe, fun and exciting activities to share with their friends,” he said.  For 25 years, the NYC Tourism Foundation has provided grants to support non-profit cultural centers and organizations across the five boroughs in their missions and operations. This includes over $330,000 to Staten Island cultural organizations.
“Our cultural institutions are foundational for Staten Island for the enriching and enjoying experiences they offer for our residents," said Borough President Fossella. "It is important that these organizations receive the resources they need to continue serving Staten Islanders, including informing them of the opportunities our cultural institutions offer. We are always appreciative of the NYC Tourism Foundation for their ongoing contribution to this effort." The grants are used by recipient organizations to bolster advertising and marketing initiatives. Specifically, the programs supported by these grants are focused on digital, transit and brochure advertisements. The 2024 Staten Island Borough Cultural Tourism grant recipients are as follows:
 Borough President Vito Fossella, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and members of the National Association of Letter Carriers urged the re-installment of a drive-through mailbox at the Manor Road Post Office at a press conference.
A note at the post office says the mailbox was “removed permanently due to an increase in vandalism and theft.” "This is a case where convenience and common sense gets thrown out the window because crooks take advantage of what happens not just across Staten Island, but across the city and state," said Borough President Fossella. "This is not a criticism of the postal service or the postal carriers, it's not a criticism of the NYPD. This is just highlighting what has been a good thing for this community.” He said the neighborhood residents shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of those who are committing the thefts and vandalism “We want to reinstate and replace these drop boxes here,” said Borough President Fossella. “If there are thefts, let's get the guys who do it and put them behind bars if necessary, but let's not give in. I'm optimistic that we can work out a solution to get these things back." In a joint letter to the United States Postmaster of Staten Island, they suggested the installation of security cameras and an increase in the presence of the Postal Police.  Rita Bueti still brought to tears when recalling how Borough President Vito Fossella helped her son during his deployment to Kuwait.
Her son, Michael, joined the Marines because “he wanted to support his country and fight for his country,” but he quickly became depressed “because everybody was against the war.” While in Congress, he arranged a video call for families of the men and women serving overseas to talk about both their pride in their children and their fears. In the middle, Michael called his mom and asked, “what are we doing here, why am I here, I never should have come.” Then Congressman-Fossella overheard the conversation and asked if he could speak to Michael. “He took the phone, walked away and when he came back, he gave me the phone and my son was very appreciative that he spoke to him,” said Rita who ran into Vito at Disability Pride Month on Tuesday at the College of Staten Island. “I do believe you saved my son’s life because my son was very depressed. After the phone call, my son was much better. So, I want to thank Vito Fossella for doing that and always being very supportive of the military families and the developmentally disabled because I know he does a lot for them, as well.” We thank Michael for his service to our country.  Borough President Vito Fossella condemned recent acts of vandalism in the form of graffiti on the Postcards 9/11 Memorial, a sacred site which honors the memory of the Staten Islanders who were killed on Sept. 11 and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The words “Free Palistine” with Palestine misspelled and the anti-cop acronym, “ACAB,” were scrawled onto the winged walls of the Memorial. “In this great country of ours, The First Amendment, among other things, guarantees individuals the right to speak freely and express themselves," said Borough President Fossella. "It does not guarantee individuals the right to destroy and desecrate property, especially something as meaningful as the Postcards Memorial that honors all of the Staten Islanders who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks." Borough President Fossella immediately reached out to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which maintains the site, and the graffiti was quickly removed. “We are grateful for the continued collaboration between our offices that have seen great improvements and beautifications to the site and are thankful for the help and partnership to preserve this memorial as a sacred place,” he said.  Borough President Vito Fossella celebrated a unique act of kindness and friendship between Zamier Davis, who strived to make the Honor Roll at Edwin Markham Intermediate School, and Wail Alselwi, the manager of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery in Port Richmond, who provided the incentive.
Zamier, a regular customer of the deli, made a habit of showing his report cards to Wail. He always made Merit Roll, but he wanted top honors. To provide the incentive, Wail made a promise to Zamier: Once he achieved Honor Roll, he would reward him with anything he wanted from the store for free. “I wanted to get better and after getting my average up to 80, I kept pushing and I made Honor Roll with a 90 average,” said Zamier during a press conference inside the deli last week. The heartwarming story first aired on "Good Morning America" and captured the moment when Zamier ran into the store with his Honor Roll certificate. Wail's response, “You did it, go grab whatever you want.” Zameir quickly ran through the aisles with sheer delight and brought several bags of Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili to the counter. Wail has now continued the academic incentive with other kids in the neighborhood. Borough President Fossella was so moved by the gesture that he presented Zameir and Wail with Certificates of Appreciation. “We all want our children to do well in school, we all want them to do well in life,” said Borough President Fossella. “Sometimes kids, like everybody, are encouraged to do things because of different incentives -- and everybody needs the right incentives to grow. This young man was at school and maybe not doing as well as he thought he could. So, this man right here said he was going to give him an incentive to make the Honor Roll at I.S. 51. He had no obligation, he had no reason, he had no point to help this young man, but he chose to and that’s the beauty of this story.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda announced the culmination of months of successful enforcement actions against dozens of smoke shops on Staten Island.
“The people who own these facilities are both deceptive and dangerous,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference. “They’re deceptive to the community and they’re dangerous because they basically attract young people at an early age and try to get them hooked on drugs.” For more than two years, Borough President Fossella has coordinated with the Sheriff’s office, forwarding constituent reports and providing updates on suspected illegal smoke shops. Borough President Fossella and Mayor Adams have jointly advocated for legislative intervention from the State to clarify the rules of enforcement and empower local law enforcement to crack down on illegal smoke shops. The 2024 New York State Budget included a provision enabling the Sheriff’s office to padlock storefronts found selling illegal marijuana, hold illegal smoke shop owners accountable, and immediately deputize the NYPD to assist in carrying out enforcement actions. On the heels of the expansion of enforcement powers granted by the State, the Sheriff Joint Compliance Task Force launched Operation Padlock to Protect, which conducts widespread compliance inspections. The inspections have led to arrests, summonses, seizures, and other enforcement actions, including evictions. Since the operation commenced, the task force has sealed over 535 illegal smoke shops, resulting in $43 million in civil penalties and $17.5 million in illegal products confiscated. On the day of the press conference, the task force inspected its last 20 reported Staten Island illegal smoke shop locations. Borough President Fossella vowed to continue the joint enforcement effort. “This doesn’t happen without teamwork, and it doesn’t happen without people working together to stand up for the good people of Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “This is just the beginning. These places are like whack-a-mole. They shut them down once, they’ll open three blocks away. We are going to stay on it.” Borough President Vito Fossella Allocates Funding For Track At Morris (I.S. 61) Intermediate School6/26/2024
  Borough President Vito Fossella and his office assisted Howard Gutter, a longtime Mariners Harbor resident, with restoring a sense of normalcy to his neighborhood following the three-story stacking of numerous containers on the property directly behind his backyard.
Over the past few years, Mr. Gutter and his neighbors have had to endure what appeared to be a container ship in their backyards. What started as a tire shop storing a few containers of used tires at 2246 Forest Ave. had grown into a three-story metal monstrosity while deteriorating their quality-of-life. Not only were the stacked containers a blight on their views, but some of the stacked containers allegedly contained tires, drawing concerns over possible fires. Mr. Gutter tried repeatedly to have the property owners remove the eyesore and potential fire hazard from his backyard, without any success. He contacted our office and, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), particularly Community Engagement & Programming Officer Frank Fontana and the DOB Padlock Unit, progress was finally made. DOB issued an order to the property owners to remove 16 of the containers by May 31. “Thank you so much again for all your help," said Mr. Gutter. "I kept calling around, and nothing got done. Finally, I reached y’all guys, and you got things done. I didn’t mess with the shop until they started stacking these tires three-stories high. The problem with those toxic tires, and nobody was policing what they were doing -- it wasn’t right. I just wanted the containers moved.” Borough President Fossella recently visited Mr. Gutter for a first-hand look at his backyard before the containers were removed. “All Mr. Gutter wanted to do was enjoy his backyard and the view, and that was unfortunately taken away from him,” said Borough President Fossella. “We were more than happy to help. Any time we can help a Staten Islander with a quality-of-life issue -- that is what we’re here for. We thank Frank Fontana and our partners at the Department of Buildings Padlock Unit for working with us to help this man out.”  Borough President Vito Fossella joined with a bipartisan coalition of elected officials, along with community groups, to protest a planned migrant shelter at Faith United Methodist Church in Port Richmond.
He said they were told “out of the blue” and “in the dark of night” that the proposed shelter would house 15 single males seeking asylum in the United States. “Some people in this community, volunteers, wake up every day trying to figure out, ‘how do we make Port Richmond better? How do we make the North Shore better?’” said Borough President Vito Fossella at a press conference outside of the church. “And then along come the agencies, [which] say, ‘Guess what? Here’s a way we can make it better: 'We’re gonna dump a migrant shelter right in the middle of your neighborhood.' How is that any degree of common sense?” Borough President Fossella said the elected officials vow to continue fighting the proposed Port Richmond shelter and any others proposed for or placed on Staten Island in the future. “We stand united in one voice to say this is wrong for the people of Staten Island, this is wrong for the community of Port Richmond,” he said.  Borough President Vito Fossella announced a $1.9 million capital allocation to Richmond University Medical Center to acquire a second state-of-the-art da Vinci Robotic Surgical System during a press conference in the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Surgical Pavilion.
The da Vinci system, which is used in hospitals around the world, offers several advantages in the operating room, including greater prevision and access to surgical sites, mitigating infection, pain, and the need for opiates. It also improves recovery time and outcomes. It can be used for bariatric, thoracic, gynecological, urological, colorectal, and hernia procedures. Additionally, the efficiency associated with the da Vinci system helps avoid delays in scheduling surgeries. “RUMC is home to so many healthcare professionals who want the best for the people of Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “When I did a walk-through with RUMC recently, they told me they needed another robotic system to deliver the best quality-of-care to Staten Islanders. It’s a game-changer.” Dr. Daniel Messina, RUMC president, said the addition of a second robotic system “will truly advance the surgery” provided for patients. “This is the same robotic system you will find in the most esteemed healthcare systems and academic places -- and not just here regionally, not just in the United States, but around the world,” said Dr. Messina. “Now, you can find it right here on Staten Island in Richmond University Medical Center." Dr. Messina said more than 80% of the surgical staff are trained in performing robotic surgery. Of the nearly 11,000 surgeries performed at RUMC last year, there were 8,000 performed using the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System. “I can tell you there was a big tug-of-war for the one system that we had and now with the support of our Borough President, we will avoid that situation,” said Dr. Messina. “Robotic surgery continues to be the future of surgery and that future was part of the planning process when we designed our new surgical pavilion. Thanks to Borough President Fossella, we now have the technology that will take us to the next level.”  Borough President Vito Fossella joined his fellow elected officials as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced a $10 million investment to install enhanced license place readers at the Bayonne Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing.
They are already in use at the Goethals Bridge. License plate readers collect digitally readable images of vehicle license plates that are used to locate stolen vehicles or vehicles used in other criminal activity, or to identify vehicles involved with missing persons such as children and the elderly. While the Port Authority Police Department has been deploying mobile readers at the Bayonne Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing, permanent readers use higher resolution cameras that are installed at locations optimal for more precise collection of data, which can be shared in real-time with law enforcement partners for investigations and prosecutions. License plate readers are a tool to combat stolen cars, and while car thefts are down over the last two years, the scanners should drive those numbers down even more. “We will continue to highlight the need for tougher measures and additional tools to stop thieves from stealing cars,” said Borough President Fossella at the Port Authority’s press conference on Monday at the Goethals Bridge. “Progress has been made, and we need to remain vigilant. We have maintained that license plate readers would be an additional and effective tool to reduce car thefts even more. We thank the District Attorney, NYPD and the Port Authority for their efforts and willingness to install these readers.” In addition to those already in use on the Goethals Bridge, the Port Authority’s investment will bring the total number of license plate readers to 40, which will include 24 new readers at the Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing. They are expected to be installed by 2026.  Borough President Vito Fossella unveiled a ground-up, one-of-a-kind Behavioral Health Blueprint for Staten Island Children and Young Adults to support those at-risk or already suffering from mental health illnesses at a press conference at the College of Staten Island.
In response to the growing mental health crisis on Staten Island, Borough President Fossella and his health team partnered with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and some of the longstanding organizations that have been serving the borough for more than 50 years to develop a framework to provide the best services to children and young adults with mental and emotional needs. To create the blueprint, there was extensive community participation with educators, students, parents, treatment providers, and clergy. It was led by Dr. Ginny Mantello, the director of health and wellness at Borough Hall. The blueprint aims to address an alarming increase in mental health conditions, particularly depression and suicidal thoughts, among Staten Island youth and young adults from pre-K through the age of 24. “It’s a community-based, school-based, primary care-centered approach to ensure that every child on Staten Island who may show signs of behavioral problems or mental illness will get the help they need,” said Borough President Fossella. “And that will come between a collaboration with the Department of Education, the healthcare providers, so many of you in this room, to ensure that here on Staten Island, with this customized -- not a one size fits all -- but a customized approach that will work for the kids and the families of Staten Island.” The “north star” goal of zero suicides was selected to guide the work, which includes reducing suicidal ideation; reducing suicidal attempts; reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations for suicidality; improving transition to care post-hospitalization; increasing self-management, connectedness, and resiliency; and decreasing anxiety, bullying, and depression, substance misuse and overdoses. Additionally, there will be a multi-pronged system in the schools this fall to track the data, which will include teen mental health and first aid tips for ninth-and-tenth grade students, increased training for school social workers and counselors, wellness training for school staff, and a mental health literacy pilot program for sixth-grade students.  Borough President Vito Fossella presented a proclamation to Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro in honor of her steadfast commitment to preserving the story and legacy of Sandy Ground, the nation’s oldest free Black settlement in the United States still inhabited by its original descendants.
As she steps down from her role as the executive director of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, Sandy Ground Historical , the proclamation declared May 22 as “Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro Day” on Staten Island. Sandy Ground was first settled by free Black New Yorkers as a farming community in the 1820s. In the 1850s, free Black oystermen from Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware came north to work the abundant shellfish beds of the Raritan Bay. Borough President Fossella called the story of Sandy Ground an American story. “Unless you have that person, that devoted servant, the person who believes that the story needs to be told, sometimes people forget,” said Borough President Fossella. “There’s always one person who everybody turns to in order to keep the story alive -- who’s going to tell the next generation the significance and the importance of Sandy Ground, and that’s this lady right there.” Sylvia's daughter, Julie Moody Lewis, offered her thanks for “the affection, the consideration, and the recognition” reserved for mother and referenced the free Black men who settled on the sandy shores. “Sandy Ground is her heart,” she said. “That community out there in Sandy Ground is an authentic historic site, and Staten Island has to make sure that it remains intact and that the historical society stays there, in that place, so we can continue to re-live that history. Take your shoes off and rub it in that sand and get some of that determination that they had.”  Brian Lihari, a senior at Monsignor Farrell High School, received the Michael J. Petrides Student Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.
The award is named for Michael J. Petrides, a Staten Island educator who passed away in 1994 and is awarded annually to a student who shows and practices model citizenship both inside and outside the classroom. Brian is a member of the Scholars Program, an elite group of students enrolled in numerous rigorous classes across several academic disciplines, including advanced placement. He has a 102% GPA and an outstanding SAT score of 1480. His work outside of Farrell includes spearheading a 60-week research project of harmful bacteria levels of the waters surrounding Staten Island. His findings were published in the Citizen’s Water Quality Testing Program, which he presented to the New York State Department of Health. Additionally, he helped develop an alert system to warn residents when the waters contain high concentrations of harmful bacteria and presented his findings to public schools on Staten Island to promote awareness and safety for beachgoers. Congratulations, Brian. You make Staten Island proud. Borough President Vito Fossella Hosts 30th Annual Emergency Medical Services Recognition Ceremony5/20/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella honored Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics during the 30th Annual Emergency Medical Services Recognition Ceremony in the Staaten. The breakfast honored EMT’s, paramedics, emergency service instructors, and students for their heroic and -- and sometimes -- life-saving work. It was held in conjunction with the kickoff of National EMS Week. “I am proud to keep this tradition going because it is a valuable way to express our gratitude to the brave men and women who wear the uniform so well, and who are frankly willing to die for us sometimes,” said Borough President Fossella. In a hockey-crazed town, he referred to them as “goalies.” “To use a hockey analogy, one of the most exciting plays in the sport is when the goalie has a tremendous or exciting play and saves the puck,” he said. “In a way, that’s what you all do every single day -- you make that tremendous save. When there is a moment of hopelessness, of helplessness, you become the goalies -- you run into the house, you run to the car, or run into the building and you save lives. That is the greatest gift, the greatest vocation, the greatest thing you can do for your neighbors here on Staten Island.”   Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, and NYPD Borough Commander Assistant Chief Joseph Gullotta, along with a host of elected officials, addressed concerns about squatters during a press conference outside of a home in Westerleigh.
“We all know the expression that the home is our castle,” said Borough President Fossella. “It’s the American dream and those dreams became a nightmare for a lot of people because they realized, unfortunately, that people can just come in and take over their house. And, when the owners try to take back their homes, they realize the squatters had more rights than they did.” Previously, squatters who were able to prove residency and maintenance of a vacant property for 30 days were entitled to the rights associated with being a tenant of the property. However, the 2024 New York State Budget includes a clarification excluding squatters from tenant protections. The hole at the site of the press conference was boarded up after three defendants were indicted on criminal charges for squatting there, said District Attorney McMahon. Assistant Chief Gullotta said Ring Cameras are the best defense to prevent squatters and other home invasions. “If you can afford to put the cameras in your house, then we’re going to be in better shape,” he said. “It provides evidence for us and it provides a deterrent because if someone does go into a vacant lot or a vacant house, we can tell when they arrived and when they left. Cameras play an integral part in what we do."  Borough President Vito Fossella will hosting the first-ever Staten Island Borough President’s Girls Flag Football Showcase at the College of Staten Island tomorrow.
The showcase will feature teams from St. Joseph-by-the Sea High School, St. Joseph Hill Academy, Curtis High School, Moore Catholic High School, New Dorp High School, Notre Dame Academy, and Tottenville High School. There will be four rounds of play at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.  The Borough President's Office, along with community partners, invite you to join us for Green & Clean Week, a week-long celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day.
The following are the dates, times, and locations:
 Borough President Vito Fossella presented the 2023 Patrick F. Daly Award to two outstanding educators who exemplify the selfless leadership of the fallen principal during a ceremony at Borough Hall on Tuesday.
Patrick F. Daly lost his life in 1992 when he was caught in a gang crossfire in Red Hook, Brooklyn, while searching for a student who had left the school building. The award was posthumously presented to David LaMorte, who was the director of the Tottenville High School Marching Band for more than two decades, and to Lawrence Hansen, the principal of St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary School. In addition to leading the award-winning Marching Band, David LaMorte served as an assistant principal at Tottenville High School. He was also involved in advancing the education of the arts during his tenure as conductor of the Staten Island Community Band and was the executive director of the Summer Arts Institute. Lawrence Hansen has been the principal of St. Joseph Hill Academy since 2017. He previously taught English Language Arts and religion at St. Clare School in Great Kills to seventh-grade students from 2000 to 2007 and eighth-grade students from 2008 to 2017. A special thank you to the Tottenville High School Band, Port Richmond High School Culinary Department, and Community Media of Staten Island for making this a truly special event. And, thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating these two worthy educators. It was a wonderful and inspiring evening. |
