 Borough President Vito Fossella announced that he is filing a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure to eliminate the zoning provision permitting the construction of a 160-bed homeless shelter 4934 Arthur Kill Road in Charleston.
The site of the homeless shelter is zoned for manufacturing, also known as an “M-Zone.” Under the city’s zoning resolution, hotels in light manufacturing districts typically require special permits, but an exemption exists for facilities that will be used for temporary housing assistance, like homeless shelters. This exclusion has protected the Charleston project from a process of greater public scrutiny. Borough President Fossella referred to it as a “loophole” and argued that it is necessary to push for greater borough control over land-use decisions. His application to the city would require a full land-use review and feedback from the community -- “a true representation and reflection of what the people of Staten Island deserve, expect and want.” “More and more, the people of Staten Island are feeling as if instead of City Hall or Manhattan, we have Buckingham Palace in London of 250 years ago -- just being given things that we don’t want,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference in Borough Hall. Borough President Fossella said he held productive conversations with then-Mayor Eric Adams when the shelter was first proposed. Mayor Adams told Borough President Fossella that the site wouldn’t be used as a homeless shelter, however, those plans are now moving forward again under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “We’ve been fighting now for a good year-and-a-half,” said Borough President Fossella. “The people of Charleston don’t deserve it. We try to fight back every which way we can and we will continue to do so. We will continue to stand up for the principles that created this country 250 years ago where people have a voice and they matter.”
Borough President Vito Fossella reflected on the 250th anniversary of the United States and the depths of its commitment to liberty and the extraordinary sacrifices made to secure and preserve it:
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, we are called not only to celebration but to serious reflection on the character and meaning of this republic. America remains a singular experiment in human history — a nation deliberately founded upon the proposition that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights. What distinguishes America is not the absence of faults, for every human society bears them, but the depth of its commitment to liberty and the extraordinary sacrifices made to secure and preserve it. From the snows of Valley Forge to the beaches of Normandy and beyond, generations of Americans have risked their lives and fortunes in defense of freedom. This willingness to sacrifice for a principle larger than oneself is rare in the annals of nations. Central to America’s exceptional character is the right of citizens to hold and express their own opinions without fear of reprisal. Here, a man may disagree with the government, with prevailing opinion, or even with the spirit of the age, and he need not fear the dungeon or the executioner. This freedom of thought and speech is not a small thing. History teaches us, often in blood, that in many regimes — particularly those animated by communist ideology — to dissent from the rulers is to risk imprisonment, exile, or death. The contrast could scarcely be more stark: in America, one may criticize the powerful and still sleep safely in one’s home. In too many other places, such dissent has been, and remains, a mortal hazard. Equally remarkable is America’s tradition of religious tolerance. From its founding, the United States rejected religious establishments and offered a refuge for believers of all faiths — and those of none. Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Muslims, Hindus, and countless others have worshipped freely here in ways often denied them elsewhere. This liberty of conscience has allowed faith to flourish as a vital moral force while preventing the religious wars that scarred so much of European and world history. No less extraordinary is America’s economic achievement. Over two and a half centuries, the United States has built the largest and most dynamic economy the world has ever known. Through enterprise, innovation, and the rule of law, it has generated unprecedented prosperity, lifted billions globally out of poverty through trade and technology, and created opportunities for ordinary citizens to rise beyond what their parents could have imagined. This economic vitality is not an accident of geography but the fruit of a system that rewards initiative and protects private property. This liberty has made possible one of the most remarkable features of American life: the opportunity extended to immigrants from every corner of the world. For two and a half centuries, men and women have come to these shores and found the chance to rise according to their industry, talent, and character. Few nations have so successfully turned strangers into citizens and dreamers into builders. America has known grave sins, including the evil of slavery and the long shadow of racial injustice. Yet, throughout our history, we have not been blind or indifferent to our imperfections. In fact, our nation has shown a capacity for self-correction, grounded by the words of the Preamble to our very own Constitution - to create “a more perfect union”. And, we have endeavored to do so for 250 years. Our republic has confronted its failures with a seriousness that few regimes have matched. As a force for liberty, the United States has few equals. It has stood against tyranny in its most brutal forms — fascism, communism, and despotism — and has offered hope to those who yearn for self-government. At two hundred and fifty years, America is not a finished project, but a continuing endeavor. Its genius lies in the permanent truth that it enshrines: that free men and women, under law and guided by virtue, can govern themselves and create a society worthy of human dignity. Let us, then, approach this anniversary with clear eyes and grateful hearts — resolved to preserve what is good, to repair what is broken, and to transmit to the next generation the extraordinary inheritance of freedom that is our common birthright. Borough President Vito Fossella announced that he is filing a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure to eliminate the zoning provision permitting the construction of a 160-bed homeless shelter 4934 Arthur Kill Road in Charleston.
The site of the homeless shelter is zoned for manufacturing, also known as an “M-Zone.” Under the city’s zoning resolution, hotels in light manufacturing districts typically require special permits, but an exemption exists for facilities that will be used for temporary housing assistance, like homeless shelters. This exclusion has protected the Charleston project from a process of greater public scrutiny. Borough President Fossella referred to it as a “loophole” and argued that it is necessary to push for greater borough control over land-use decisions. His application to the city would require a full land-use review and feedback from the community -- “a true representation and reflection of what the people of Staten Island deserve, expect and want.” “More and more, the people of Staten Island are feeling as if instead of City Hall or Manhattan, we have Buckingham Palace in London of 250 years ago -- just being given things that we don’t want,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference in Borough Hall. Borough President Fossella said he held productive conversations with then-Mayor Eric Adams when the shelter was first proposed. Mayor Adams told Borough President Fossella that the site wouldn’t be used as a homeless shelter, however, those plans are now moving forward again under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “We’ve been fighting now for a good year-and-a-half,” said Borough President Fossella. “The people of Charleston don’t deserve it. We try to fight back every which way we can and we will continue to do so. We will continue to stand up for the principles that created this country 250 years ago where people have a voice and they matter.”  Borough President Vito Fossella presented the Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award to Alice Diamond, a longtime supporter of the cultural arts on Staten Island and one of the key founders of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.
The Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award, established in 1986, honors our ninth Borough President. Maniscalco’s tenure from 1955 to 1965 saw the creation of the Greenbelt and the construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. His namesake award celebrates civic-minded Staten Islanders who have dedicated their lives in service for the betterment of their community. “Alice Diamond is synonymous with Staten Island culture,” said Borough President Fossella during an intimate gathering in his office surrounded by Mrs. Diamond’s family and friends. “In fact, she is Staten Island culture. Everything that her fingerprints are on has blossomed and made this borough a better place.” Mrs. Diamond is the wife of Richard E. Diamond, the late publisher of the Staten Island Advance, and the mother of Caroline Diamond Harrison, who succeeded her father as publisher of the Advance, Alison D. Levasseur, and Richard E. Diamond Jr. She has been a driving force on various boards of cultural organizations. In addition to her work at Snug Harbor, Mrs. Diamond has held multiple board positions and played important roles at the NYC Advisory Commission of Cultural Affairs; the Staten Island Chapter of the Red Cross; the Lynne Robbins Steinman Beautification Foundation; the Historic House Trust of NYC; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Greenbelt Conservancy, and the Staten Island Foundation. Mrs. Diamond was also instrumental in the creation of the Carousel for All Children at Willowbrook Park, which continues to be fully accessible for the enjoyment of people of all abilities. Borough President Fossella called Mrs. Diamond “the best that Staten Island has to offer” and in a fitting tribute, she was presented with the Maniscalco Award 40 years after her husband received the first Maniscalco Award in 1986. “When we choose a recipient for this award, we look at Staten Island’s landscape of a half million people and say, ‘who truly embodies the spirit and virtue of this borough?’” said Borough President Fossella. “Alice does so without ever asking for any attention, without ever giving up. Like a quiet force of nature.” Mrs. Diamond accepted the award with the dignity and grace she is known for. “It was Ralph Lamberti who created this award to memorialize Al Maniscalco,” said Mrs. Diamond. “Both men were my friends. And the first recipient of this award was more than just my friend. Thank you for letting me share this honor with him and with my family.  Borough President Vito Fossella is officially asking the city to explore the use of electric ferries, currently used throughout Europe, at varying locations across Staten Island, which could potentially cut a commute down to as little as 30 minutes.
“The Staten Island commuter is beleaguered daily, especially from the South Shore to Midtown to Downtown -- it’s a very tough thing for the people of Staten Island to endure day in and day out," said Borough President Fossella at a press conference on the Ocean Breeze fishing pier. Borough President Fossella praised the introduction of fast-ferry service in St. George, but said adding fast-ferry service to other parts of Staten Island is not only limited by parking, but also by the existence of “no-wake zones” in parts of the Arthur Kill and the Kill van Kull. “There’s new technology that is coming out, especially in Europe, where there are hydrofoils that can operate without generating a wake,” said Borough President Fossella. “It means it can get from Point A to Point B in a faster duration.” The hydrofoils use underwater fins to lift the hull above the water, allowing faster and smoother navigation. A Swedish company, called Candela, simulated the estimated run time of an electric ferry from different locations on Staten Island to different locations in the city. Here's a snapshot: A simulation of a trip on an electric ferry from Ocean Breeze to the Whitehall Ferry Terminal took 20 minutes, a trip to West 39th Street took 28 minutes and a trip to East 34th Street took 29 minutes. Similar simulations from Fresh Kills and Great Kills were also conducted with travel times peaking at 46 minutes from Fresh Kills to East 34th Street. “So, it seems like there are opportunities to explore,” said Borough President Fossella. “This is real, the service is up and operating in certain parts of the world already. Today, we are officially asking the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which would spearhead this effort, to begin a formal process to evaluate and to open a dialogue with some of these companies that provide these types of services.” Borough President Fossella said it could be "gamechanger" if a commuter could travel from Great Kills to 34th Street in under an hour, adding the city should evaluate the pros and cons of each location and the feasibility of building piers to accomodate electric ferries. “The people of Staten Island deserve at least for the city to explore it," he said. "I think they’re open to it and they deserve a break -- the commuters do -- and this would really be a gamechanger for their lives, give them another hour or two of their life back each day and that’s something that we need to continue to push for.”  Borough President Vito Fossella and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo renewed calls for an end to the proliferation of volatile lithium-ion battery energy storage systems on Staten Island.
Both have long been vocal opponents of the mass siting of dangerous lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) in residential neighborhoods on Staten Island, which was made possible by the reclassification of BESS to residential zoning in the City of Yes. Since the implementation of the City of Yes, a large share of all BESS units in the city have been proposed or sited on Staten Island. As BESS systems are nearing completion across Staten Island, fires continue to ignite near homes and businesses near these facilities across the country, including three in Warwick since 2023. “You’ve got to wake up once and say does anyone appreciate what we go through when somebody comes through and suggests that a BESS unit should be built right here,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the site of a planned 10,000-square-foot system in an empty lot at 1963 Victory Boulevard on the border of Westerleigh and Castleton Corners. “They’re insane, they're unsafe, and if they catch fire, as they’ve done throughout the country, they have to evacuate neighborhoods and they close highways down.” Borough President Fossella called the siting of the BESS units near Staten Island homes and businesses “unconscionable and immoral.” “And we’ve been banging the drum literally and figuratively that you don’t deserve this next to your home,” said Borough President Fossella. “It’s unfair, it’s borderline immoral, and others argue it’s borderline illegal to do this to you. So, the powers that be think it’s good for Staten Island, but we think it’s bad and we think it’s wrong.”  Borough President Vito Fossella issued the following statement regarding the postponement of construction on the Korean War Veterans Parkway:
“There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Korean War Veterans Parkway. After the initial delay, and a continued series of productive conversations with the State Department of Transportation and the Governor’s office, we are pleased to announce that the KWVP maintenance project is now being postponed until after Labor Day. In addition, there will be a concerted cleanup effort for the south-bound lane in the coming days, the barrels will be removed, and the right lane will be reopened. We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the NYS DOT for hearing our concerns and those of our residents, and for being good partners throughout this process.”  The city is proposing a new dedicated bus lane on Victory Boulevard, which would eliminate parking spaces for residents, teachers, parents, students, and businesses along the busy corridor.
"Raise your hand if you want to eliminate parking on Victory Boulevard?" said Borough President Fossella during a recent walk along the Boulevard. "I didn’t think you did, but guess who does? The City of New York." The proposal would eliminate parking on one side of Victory Boulevard from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and on the other side from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Bay Street to Little Clove Road. "So, if you happen go to Notre Dame Academy and park here, you’re out of luck; if you teach here, you’re out of luck; if you’re a resident in one of these buildings and you typically park on the street, you’re out of luck," said Borough President Fossella. "This is just one more page out of the book of insanity where the people of Staten Island are left out of the equation." Before decisions are made that affect our neighborhoods, Staten Islanders deserve to be heard. "Let’s work on solutions that make sense for our borough, not policies imposed from afar," said Borough President Fossella. " Let’s change this page once and for all." And, a secondary proposal would eliminate parking on Victory Boulevard from Bay Street to the College of Staten Island. "Seems radical to me or stupid -- or both," said Borough President Fossella.  Borough President Vito Fossella, NYD Borough Commander Melissa Eger, District Attorney Michael McMahon and interfaith leaders from across Staten Island took a stand against violent hate crimes committed against people for solely practicing their faith in peace.
They joined together in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of three worshippers at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday. San Diego authorities have identified the shooting as a hate crime. “The First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the first words that are given to the folks who live in this country, is basically the right to express their religion,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference outside of Borough Hall. “They felt people should be able to express it without persecution, without condemnation, without being assaulted, without being jailed because that was the healthiest thing for this country. We pray for those who were injured, we pray for those who were killed.” Imam Tahir Kukaj, vice president of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center of Staten Island, said the reason for today’ gathering is to “pray for the victims of San Diego and to send a message of unity and respect that we share here on Staten Island.” “Wherever it happens, whatever type of hate or killing against anybody, we come together on Staten Island,” he said. “We are always together. We send our prayers to the victims and their families in San Diego. We pray that less of these events or zero of these events happen anywhere in the world. As long as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, one-by-one together, hate has no place on Staten Island.” NYPD Commander Eger said the prayers of the entire Staten Island police force are with the victims of the San Diego shooting. She said the NYPD has increased its presence and visibility at houses of worship across the five boroughs “to ensure we remain proactive and safeguard our communities at all times.” “Nobody should ever, ever fear gathering in prayer or in fear of practicing their faith,” she said. “The right to worship freely and peacefully is something that we, the NYPD, will always protect.” Borough President Vito Fossella called on the State Department of Transportation to suspend planned maintenance work on the Korean War Veterans Parkway until after Labor Day, citing increased volumes of traffic crossing the Outerbridge into New Jersey during peak summer months.
The state’s current plan involves shutting down the entire right lane of the southbound parkway for the duration of work, which is slated to begin on Tuesday and projected to take place through the summer. “We’re trying to avoid the summer of hell here on Staten Island on the Korean War Veterans Parkway,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference on the Tyrellan Avenue Overpass. “Right now, the state is proposing a construction project that will disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of people.” Borough President Fossella said he hasn’t been fully briefed on the scope of the project, nor has the NYPD. “Who was at the wheel when they decided to practically shut down the Korean War Veterans Parkway on Staten Island during the summer?” he asked. “You have people going back and forth and so many other reasons where traffic increases during the summer months -- and it’s only going to get worse, and dramatically worse.” He said the state “has an obligation to come forward to explain what they’re going to do” and called upon Staten Island’s state legislators to step in. “We implore those at the highest levels of the state of New York to say: ‘Listen to the people of Staten Island, their pleas, their concerns, who sit in this traffic every day,” said Borough President Fossella. “It’s time for the state to listen, to step forward, call a timeout on this proposed project and figure out a better way to implement it so you’re not inconveniencing tens of thousands of people on a weekly basis.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, the Staten Island Performing Provider System, and MISSION grant partners announced the results of the first series of training, which provided tools to assess and prevent substance abuse and suicide.
Two years ago, Borough President Fossella unveiled a federally funded, first-of-its kind Mental and Behavioral Health Blueprint for Children and Young Adults. The Blueprint was designed to address an alarming increase in mental health conditions with the main goal of zero suicides and zero overdoses. Borough President Fossella linked the effects of isolation during COVID-19 to an increase in substance abuse and suicide. “We started to embark on a journey about two years ago to get to a point of identifying the correlation between substance abuse and mental illness and to truly get to a point of zero suicides and zero overdoses,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference in Borough Hall. There were 320 participants from the mental health, education, and law enforcement communities who participated in the first six training sessions. “To me, what made this series so meaningful was seeing so many different people across systems coming together and willing to learn,” said Ileana Acosta, the director of Behavioral Health at the Staten Island Performing Provider System. “Sometimes, the difference is simply knowing what questions to ask, how to screen and assess, and where to connect someone for help, instead of feeling afraid or unsure of what to do. I think that is exactly what this series accomplished -- helping people become more prepared, more confident and willing to step into those conversations instead of avoiding them."  Borough President Vito Fossella and the Staten Island EMS Task Force were proud to honor emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency service instructors and students for their heroic, life-saving actions during the 32nd Annual EMS Recognition Ceremony in the Hilton Garden Inn.
"The training, the compassion, and the way you do things every single day needs to be acknowledged and recognized, and that’s why we do this, because we appreciate what you do,” said Borough President Fossella at the ceremony which coincided with National EMS Week. “There’s a family out there, probably today, that will be stressed, there will be an urgency, but they will be in good hands when one of you shows up.” FDNY Chief of EMS Operations Paul Miano said the entire EMS team on Staten Island works together for a common goal: To save the lives of Staten Islanders. “Please know that we acknowledge you every single day,” he said. “You wake up, you come to work, you change outcomes, you deliver babies, you save lives. You are a special breed of people. Don’t ever let anyone take that away from you. You are the heroes’ heroes, don’t ever forget that.” In a poignant moment, the parents of EMT Brianna Sison received commemorative military dog tags in her honor. She died last year following a courageous battle with cancer. Our congratulations to all the honorees -- and our thanks to all the men and women who put their own lives on the line to help their fellow Staten Islanders.  Borough President Vito Fossella thanked members of a volunteer search-and-rescue crew who found Barbara Martz, an 83-year-old woman who went missing from her West Brighton home last month.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was alerted to the retired schoolteacher’s disappearance through a social media post by Staten Island activist Scott LoBaido. The 27 volunteers followed tips, distributed flyers, and knocked on doors before safely finding her on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on April 14. “After following the situation, we thought it would be nice to recognize what you all did,” said Borough President Fossella during a gathering in his office. “We just want to say thank you.” Ed Arale of the CERT team organized the volunteers into groups of four with mapped grids of the area. “Within two hours, we found her,” he said. “It all comes down to boots on the ground -- these people who came out, they stopped what they were doing, they’re true spontaneous volunteers.”  Borough President Vito Fossella and city officials announced a “Spring-Cleaning Blitz” across Staten Island, aiming to repair our pockmarked roads and remove litter left behind after the harsh winter.
Regular street repair and cleaning efforts were disrupted by the two snowstorms that blanketed Staten Island with more than a foot of snow, causing a build-up of trash on public streets and in public spaces. The initiative will bring together the City Department of Sanitation, the City Department of Transportation, the City Department of Parks, the Natural Resources Protective Association, nonprofits, and student volunteers. Penalties will be enforced to those caught littering and interfering with the cleanup efforts. “This is going to be the beginning of a big Spring blitz across Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference on Earth Day at Front Street and Edgewater Place in Stapleton. “These folks, who dedicate their lives to improving quality of life, have committed, thankfully, to helping us out and they’ll be dispatched across the Island.” And work has already begun: Crews collected approximately 600 pounds of trash from Front Street prior to the press conference. Borough President Fossella noted the Spring Blitz is a perfect opportunity for students to earn service credits. “If there are kids out there through their schools that need service hours, let us know, and we’ll figure out a way to plug you in,” he said. Borough President Fossella also applauded one of our own -- staff photographer Peter Trivelas has spent countless hours removing illegal signs from telephone poles. “Hundreds, if not thousands of signs have been taken down off the poles across Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “Peter, thank you for what you do.”  Borough President Vito Fossella and Jessica Baldwin Phillips, CEO of Historic Richmond Town, announced the launch of a website to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
The website will feature a list of anniversary events taking place across Staten Island and provides a submission form for organizers to upload their events. “We’ve been putting a lot of effort into how Staten Island will commemorate the 250th anniversary,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference in Borough Hall. “We’re here today to say that we will launch a new website, a portal for anybody on Staten Island who is interested in celebrating in their own little way.” Several events are already planned, including performances of the award-winning musical “1776” at the College of Staten Island; an exhibit at Historic Richmond Town featuring objects from their collection, such as a campaign button from 1776; the Staten Island Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert; the International Parade of Tall Ships, and an Independence Day Celebration at Historic Richmond Town on July 4. Jessica Baldwin Phillips recalled that "New York stood at the very center of the American Revolution and right here on Staten Island, history was not distant -- troops marched on these grounds, strategies were debated, peace was attempted -- and the future of the nation was uncertain.” “Today, we have the privilege and the responsibility to remember that history is not something static, but something we actively carry forward,” she said. “This new website is an invitation to do just that.”  Borough President Vito Fossella honored Robert and Linda Ollis as the 2025 recipients of the Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award during a small gathering in Borough Hall. Following the posthumous Medal of Honor awarded to their son, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, Borough President Fossella chose the couple for their steadfast commitment to not only remember their son but also uplift the community around them while doing so. They established the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation to support the veteran community. "You don't just carry on Michael's legacy," said Borough President Fossella. "You do do it with grace, humility, a tradition rooted in just a sense of service for others, and we will never forget Michael's sacrifice," said Borough President Fossella. Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, who served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, was killed in Afghanistan while protecting a Polish soldier. He was 24-years-old. As part of the ceremony, the Ollis' names were unveiled on a plaque in the main lobby of Borough Hall, and a framed portrait of their son was installed in the conference room next to Staten Island's two previous Medal of Honor recipients, Rev. Lt. Vincent R. Capodanno and Private Joseph F. Merrell Jr.   Borough President Vito Fossella issued a call to the city to increase its allocation of paving resources to Staten Island in the upcoming budget after two snowstorms left the borough’s streets riddled with potholes.
“We’re here to really call upon the city to recognize the conditions of the roadways and also to realign the interests of what really matters,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the intersection of Thornycroft Avenue and King Street in Eltingville. “We have a situation where typically 200 lane miles are needed on Staten Island to be paved, to keep them in relatively good condition. The city is slated to pave about 150 miles of roads. So, on the surface we already know it’s a problem.” He said the borough is getting “the short end of the stick” as money is being spent here in areas that are not generally supported by Staten Islanders, specifically a $2B deal signed by the Department of Homeless Services to house people in hotels. “Their spending priorities, to me, are wrongheaded,” said Borough President Fossella. “This is part of the anti-car culture in the city, you know more bike lanes that we don’t want, make driving as miserable as possible, and just take that money that we need and we want and put it elsewhere." Borough President Fossella urged the city to "put Staten Island' as they hash out the budget. "So, let’s put Staten Island first, let’s put Staten Island’s streets first and when they’re contemplating the budget over the next couple of months, put the people of Staten Island first and not second as has been happening for the last few weeks from being shut out of the 2K program and getting proposed homeless shelters we don’t want.," said Borough President Fossella. "You just keep adding it up and Staten Island is getting the shift and it needs to stop and it needs to change.”  Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by District Attorney Michael McMahon and students from Staten Island schools to announce the 35th annual Notre Dame Club Bread Of Life Food Drive.
The Bread Of Life Food Drive works with more than 100 borough public and private schools with "Fight Hunger, Not Each Other" as the continuing catchphrase. Since its inception, the Bread of Life Food Drive has collected and distributed more than two million non-perishable food items to 25 non-profit organizations on Staten Island. “You come together to make things better," said Borough President Fossella during a press conference in Borough Hall. Rev. Terry Troia, executive director of Project Hospitality, one of the recipient organizations, shared a story of a phone call she received from the principal of a fourth-grade student who was so hungry she ate an entire piece of Easter candy, wrapper included. She visited the student’s home and found less than a quart of milk in the refrigerator and a single bag of potato chips in the cupboard as their sole source of food. Her mother also had a 10-month-old baby and was pregnant. “These are the kinds of situations that require the food that you are collecting,” said Rev. Troia. “What you do is fill those cupboards and refrigerators. You are saving that fourth-grader from having to eat that wrapper and that is very powerful.” The participating schools will collect food throughout the rest of the month. The food will then be boxed at Monsignor Farrell High School on March 28 and delivered to the recipient organizations. "It’s just an inspiring response from all the schools,” said Bread of Life Executive Director Joseph Delaney. Borough President Vito Fossella slammed a proposal to construct affordable housing on CUNY campuses, including the College of Staten Island, which lacks parking, public transit access and the amenities and infrastructure needed to support living space.
A report issued by the Center for an Urban Future proposed using unused or open space on CUNY campuses to build affordable housing and urged the city to adopt this policy. The College of Staten Island is highlighted as one such school with enough available space to build “multiple five-acre developments.” An estimated 8,700 students have decals to park on the CSI campus, but there are only 2,600 parking spaces -- "and here comes this group that says let's make this problem worse." “We’re here today to say it’s a really bad and it’s a really dumb idea,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference outside of CSI’s Victory Boulevard entrance. “It will hurt the students, it will hurt the faculty, it will just hurt the flow here. Let’s take away hundreds or who knows how many parking spots, which would only compromise the quality-of-life for the students and the faculty at the College of Staten Island." Jonathan R. Peters, a professor of finance and data analytics in CSI’s Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business, called the Victory Boulevard entrance “traffic central on Staten Island" and "a very challenged corridor." “This really serves as the front door to the college,” said Professor Peters. “The reality of life here on the campus is we have a heavy dependency on autos. This is not Hunter College, where we have the 4/5/6 train at the corner of our building. Our students, our faculty, our staff rely on automobiles. It is very difficult to get to and from other areas of Staten Island to this campus. If transit was here and if we were seeing improvements, you’d have some ideas about what you could do further, but I would suggest that we think clearly about how it would function if this was actually done."  Borough President Vito Fossella, NYPD Borough Commander Assistant Chief Melissa Eger and District Attorney Michael McMahon addressed burglary patterns involving forced home invasions and the theft of high-end luxury vehicles and urged residents to take preventative measures.
Despite Staten Island recording a 14% decline in grand larceny autos thefts, a 69% decline in burglaries and an 8% decline in overall index crimes so far this year, a recent burglary pattern in Todt Hill and Dongan Hills, involving several forced home entries and thefts of personal vehicles, as well as an attempted grand larceny auto theft in Arden Heights, has raised the alarm among law enforcement officials and residents. The suspects have been dubbed the “Crowbar Crew” by law enforcement officials as they allegedly use crowbars to open windows to gain access to homes and vehicles with this current pattern taking place between Feb. 1 and Feb. 9. "Part of why we're here today is to remind the people of Staten Island to be vigilant and to take caution," said Borough President Fossella at a press conference outside of the 121st Precinct in Graniteville. “There are bad people on the streets. The effort and the goal are to get rid of them so that you can live in peace, but there are little pockets in Todt Hill and Dongan Hills, and more recently Arden Heights, where there are people looking to steal cars. We’re going to do everything we can to ensure it comes to a halt or is minimized as much as possible.” Borough Commander Eger said the NYPD has stepped up its patrols in the areas most impacted by the burglary pattern and has increased the number of unmarked cars, particularly overnight. Residents are urged to take precautions by ensuring they remove their keys from their vehicles, remaining with their vehicles when warming them up, keeping their windows closed and locking their vehicles upon exiting them. “The message here to Staten Island residents is be vigilant but at the same time, we know what’s going on, we’re doing everything we can to make sure we bring those people to justice so that you don’t have to wake up with a car out of your driveway,” said Borough President Fossella.  Borough President Vito Fossella visited the home of Linda and Bob Ollis after President Donald Trump called them with the news that he was awarding their son, Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, with the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.
“If there ever was an American hero, a son of Staten Island, it was Michael Ollis,” said Borough President Fossella during his visit in a CBS interview. A graduate of the Petrides School, Staff Sgt. Ollis sacrificed his life while protecting a Polish soldier from a suicide bomber at their base in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom on Aug. 28, 2013. He was only 24. In the years since, his parents, elected officials and community leaders have advocated for his sacrifice to be officially recognized and honored at the national level. “SSG Ollis’ legacy is one of courage and selflessness,” said Borough President Fossella in applauding President Trump’s announcement. “With this honor, his sacrifice is immortalized forever as a tremendous example of the enduring American spirit, for many on Staten Island and across the country. To Robert and Linda Ollis, you and Michael deserve this moment many times over.” He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star, as well as the Polish government's highest military award, the Polish Medal of Honor. Now, his parents can add the Medal of Honor to the display of awards in their son's childhood bedroom in New Dorp. "I am extremely proud, but very sad," said Bob Ollis in the CBS interview. "I'd rather have Michael than the medal."  Borough President Vito Fossella condemned the city’s decision to send Staten Island’s Sanitation crews to Brooklyn for snow removal.
“Staten Islanders became second-class citizens a couple of days ago because the city took a lot of Staten Island city crews and city personnel that were handling snow removal and moved them to Brooklyn,” said Borough President Fossella, standing behind a mountain of snow and some solid ice during a press conference on the corner of Laredo Avenue and Pompey Avenue in Eltingville. He said the intersection is “just one of the many, many spots across Staten Island that we can show you.” “This is just one example of an egregious crosswalk that is covered in snow with no indication of if it will be removed,” he said. “And we can use those crews who were deployed elsewhere. They’re doing the same exact thing in Brooklyn that they could be doing here.” Borough President Fossella acknowledged the crews who are working around-the-clock shifts, noting they may be faced with additional work as there is potential for a weekend snowstorm. “They’re doing their best to clean the roads, but there is more work to do -- a lot of bus stops, a lot of fire hydrants are still covered in snow,” he said. “No matter where you go on Staten Island, there are little pockets like this and somebody higher-up decided to take crews from Staten Island and bring them elsewhere. It’s a slap in the face to the people of Staten Island who just want clean streets, safe streets. With that said, there was a mistake made and I hope the city rectifies that and gets those crews back to Staten Island to help people get around. If that other storm hits, it’s going to be worse, it’s going to add insult to injury.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblyman Charles Fall united in a bipartisan, state-level effort to combat the siting of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities in residential neighborhoods and to announce the introduction of legislation to stop their construction on Staten Island.
They stood outside the construction site of a BESS facility at 2166 Forest Ave. in the heart of Mariners Harbor, a dense residential neighborhood that sits between a strip mall and a deli, and across the street from Lowe's and Kohl’s, as well as two gas stations. Borough President Fossella said they have been calling on the city to say, “we don’t want them here.” “It seems like those cries have been falling on deaf ears to date, so we’re going to take another arrow out of the quiver and approach it from a state level,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the site. “There are other parts of the country where there is a minimum distance between a home or a business. We just keep banging that drum as loudly as possible to say that we don’t want these things near people’s homes or businesses. We believe they’re unsafe.” The elected officials also pointed to large-scale fires near BESS facilities across the country, including one in Warwick, N.Y., which ignited last month and took 24 hours to extinguish. It was the third fire at the site since 2023. To combat the construction of sites on Staten Island, Senator Scarcella-Spanton is introducing legislation which would require Community Boards are notified when a battery storage system is planned for a nearby neighborhood. The legislation would also require annual safety inspections for the BESS sites. “We see how quickly they can go up in flames and we want to make sure that they are not by your homes, by your businesses and collectively, we’re all working together with our community partners to make sure we pass this legislation,” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton. 'You Should Feel Safe Wherever You Pray': Condemning Acts Of Vandalism At Staten Island Churches1/15/2026
 Borough President Vito Fossella; NYPD Borough Commander Assistant Chief Melissa Eger; District Attorney Michael McMahon, and State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton gathered to condemn recent incidents of vandalism at Staten Island churches.
The altar and statues were damaged during a morning mass at St. Ann’s R.C. Church in Dongan Hills on Jan. 9. St. Sylvester’s R.C. Church in Concord was vandalized during their Christmas Day morning mass. Two days later, there was a burglary in the rectory at St. Roch’s R.C. Church in Port Richmond. “We stand here in solidarity with our Catholic brothers and sisters and all those of faith to say on Staten Island, you should feel safe at your church or wherever you pray,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference outside of St. Ann’s Church yesterday. “Religious freedom is at the cornerstone of who we are and we will defend it firmly and peacefully without apology.” Assistant Chief Eger said the individuals responsible for the vandalism at the churches have been arrested. NYPD Community Affairs Officers and patrol officers have increased their presence and have been making regular visits to houses of worship across Staten Island. “So, I want to emphasize that none of these incidents indicate the targeting of churches due to religious affiliation,” said Assistant Chief Eger. “These acts were of opportunism and theft, with a separate incident involving a mentally ill person.” Rev. Jacob Thumma, the pastor of St. Ann’s R.C. Church and St. Sylvester’s R.C. Church, appealed for increased mental health services and prayers for his congregants and the suspect in the incident at St. Ann’s. “This instant highlights an urgent societal concern -- the need for enhanced services and compassionate care for those suffering from mental illness,” said Father Thumma. “We must continue to invest in mental health resources that support families and provide timely interventions before crises occur. We ask the public to join us in prayer for the individual involved in this incident, that he may receive the healing he needs, and for the injured police officers and their families. We also pray for those in our congregation who were shaken by this event.”  Borough President Vito Fossella and Catholic Youth Organization officials unveiled a new set of rules for parents and spectators who disrupt games.
The rules are a response to a spate of spectator altercations during CYO games, most recently a courtside fight between two mothers in the middle of a basketball game in the gym of St. Teresa’s School on Dec. 20. In the following weeks, Borough President Fossella assisted the CYO in reaching a reasonable standard to hold parents and other spectators accountable for unruly behavior at games. The intent is to create a recurring sense of normalcy and good spirits at the games, particularly for the young athletes. Altercations had previously been handled on a case-by-case basis, “but at this point forward, there will be an objective policy.” Under the new rules, spectators who are ejected by a referee for disruptive behavior during a CYO game will now face a one-year ban. If that same individual commits a repeat violation, they will be hit with a lifetime ban. Additionally, any spectator who engages in a physical altercation will also be subject to a lifetime ban, permanently barring them from ever attending another CYO competition. Borough President Fossella said the majority of play is “nothing but a positive experience due to the coaches and the volunteers who step up to make sure young kids have a good time and to learn.” “The mission was about the kids,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference in the CYO Community Center Gym at Mount Loretto. “The mission was about teaching them responsibility. The mission was about them having a good time. The kids are the center of this universe here. And every once in a while, some spectators get out of control and ruins it for the kids and ruins it for everybody else.” He said more than 4,000 student-athletes are on CYO teams, creating lifelong friendships. He called upon the leadership of all youth sports leagues to join the conversation. “We hope this is a way is to put the focus back where it belongs, on young children having a good time, learning a skill, learning a sport,” said Borough President Fossella. Michael Neely, county director for the CYO, said the two individuals involved in the fight in St. Teresa's School have been "indefinitely suspended” from all games going forward. “We strive to do what we can for the kids,” he said. “I think this is a very important message and I appreciate Borough President Fossella’s input on this. He’s been front and center with me for the last couple of weeks, kind of trying to talk me off the ledge a little bit, but it’s pretty upsetting and I really want to publicly thank him and his staff. I also want to thank my staff, too, for helping me through this time.” |