Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, and Councilman Joseph Borelli issued a call to action in response to the surge in car thefts across Staten Island, but particularly on the South Shore.
“There may be three of us here, but we think we represent about 500,000 people on Staten Island as it relates to what has become an unmitigated disaster as the number of car thefts have become more brazen, more pronounced, more horrific, and more dangerous," said Borough President Fossella during a press conference on Jan. 11 outside of the 123rd Precinct in Totttenville. “We don't care if it's here in Tottenville, Mariners Harbor, Randall Manor, or South Beach -- it doesn't matter," he continued. "If Staten Island was a bank and the cars were money, you can add up all the stolen cars and it would probably be one of the largest bank heists in New York State history. It’s not just one-by-one. It’s over 500. It’s going to get darn close to where somebody is going to get seriously hurt or even worse. We have to stand together as the people of Staten Island to say enough is enough. We need to stop this once and for all.” District Attorney McMahon said 126 vehicles were reported stolen from the 123rd Precinct in 2022, up from 65 in 2021. There were 513 vehicles stolen from across Staten Island in 2022, up from 282 in 2021. He said most of the perpetrators are under 18 and are primarily from New Jersey. They drive into Staten Island in one vehicle, seek out high-end vehicles, steal them one-by-one, and drive them back to New Jersey. “Some are out for a joyride, some are out to use the vehicles to commit other crimes, and some of the vehicles are being shipped overseas to be sold on the international market for a large profit,” he said. Borough President Fossella, District Attorney McMahon, and Councilman Borelli laid out a multi-pronged action plan which includes the following: Legislation from Albany which would raise the age for when suspects can be treated as adults rather than juvenile offenders; adding more police officers and detectives to borough streets, and obtaining more cooperation between regional partners, particularly the Port Authority to add license plate readers on the New Jersey bridges like those used on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. They also called on Staten Islanders to be more be more vigilant in locking their cars and taking their keys with them. Additionally, an initiative will be announced in the coming weeks called “Island Safe,” which will create a central clearinghouse for Staten Islanders to anonymously share their cell phone videos and home security camera footage. Borough President Vito Fossella gathered with members of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island - COJO and a host of elected officials to light the menorah at Borough Hall on Wednesday --- the fourth night of Hanukkah.
The evening began with students from the Jewish Foundation School of Staten Island reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance, as well as singing the Star Spangled-Banner and Hatikva, the national anthem of Israel. “Listening to these young people sing, not only the national anthem of the United States, but of Israel, reminds us of how wonderful our future is and how we come together as all faiths to celebrate,” said Borough President Fossella. “When times are tough and when things are down, we know we have our faith to pull us through. I wish you nothing but joy and happiness in the season ahead.” District Attorney Michael McMahon thanked the NYPD and the Hate Crimes Task Force for their vigilance in stemming the tide of anti-Semitic crimes. “It was the light of oil lamps that led the way for Jews who fought against evil thousands of years ago,” said District Attorney McMahon. “It’s the light we see in the faces of these wonderful students. It’s the light we see all around as we bring the year to a close. We join together in love -- and it is that love that will help us fight against hate.” Prior to the lighting of the menorah, Rabbi Abraham Biderman of Congregation Oorah said the message of the candles should be celebrated all year, not just during the eight days of Hanukkah. “Stop, pause, and contemplate the miracles around us every day,” he said. “Those candles are our souls. Take a few minutes to nourish your soul and feed your spirit every day.” Borough President Vito Fossella questioned the government’s expected $600 million annual cost on the migrant crisis while basic needs for active military families are not met during a press conference on Dec. 15 at Fort Wadsworth
“The fundamental question is are we focusing on the people that matter the most, on the things that matter most and the priorities that matter most,” he said. “Or are we just throwing money into thin air on things that really don’t?” He said NYC recently submitted an invoice to the federal government for a billion dollars to care for those seeking asylum. "A billion dollars, yet our active military personnel are begging for food and diapers and wipes for their children,” he said. “Something’s not right with it.” Last month, Borough President Fossella and other local elected officials reported results of a financial analysis they requested from the Independent Budget Office (IBO) of New York City regarding the migrant crisis. They concluded that the city would spend about $600 million a year to shelter the 23,800 asylum seekers who have come to NYC. IBO estimated that a family of four who enters a shelter for a year and has two children enrolled in public school while receiving basic needs, and some health and legal services will cost $93,000 per year. “Where are our priorities?” he asked. “The amount of money the government is spending on the migrant crisis could assist all of these families who have trouble making ends meet.” Borough President Vito Fossella questioned the government’s expected $600 million annual cost on the migrant crisis while basic needs for active military families are not met during a press conference at Fort Wadsworth on Dec. 15.
“The fundamental question is are we focusing on the people that matter the most, on the things that matter most and the priorities that matter most,” said Borough President Fossella. “Or are we just throwing money into thin air on things that really don’t?” He said NYC recently submitted an invoice to the federal government for a billion dollars to care for those seeking asylum. “A billion dollars, yet our active military personnel are begging for food and diapers and wipes for their children,” he said. “Something’s not right with it.” Last month, Borough President Fossella and other local elected officials reported results of a financial analysis they requested from the Independent Budget Office (IBO) of New York City regarding the migrant crisis. They concluded that the city would spend about $600 million a year to shelter the 23,800 asylum seekers who have come to NYC. IBO estimated that a family of four who enters a shelter for a year and has two children enrolled in public school while receiving basic needs, and some health and legal services will cost $93,000 per year. “Where are our priorities?” he asked. “The amount of money the government is spending on the migrant crisis could assist all of these families who have trouble making ends meet.” Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by a special guest in lighting Borough Hall’s Christmas tree on Dec. 6.
“Wait, don’t light the tree without me,” exclaimed Santa Claus as he arrived by police escort. Before Santa’s arrival, the evening featured Christmas carols, dance performances, and book giveaways. Hot chocolate and cookies were also served. Performers included Miss Staten Island Outstanding Teen Nadia Anwar, Miss Richmond County Madison Gattullo, and Miss Richmond County Outstanding Teen Diana Eilenberg. Lina Fiscardi sang "The Christmas Song" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." Also performing were the students from MCDC-Miss Cheryls Dance Company. We also announced our partnership with the Ollis Family and PS 56 for “Operation A Hero Needs A Hero.” The tree inside the lobby of Borough Hall is a Giving Tree where the public are invited to take a tag from the tree to help veteran families of Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton this holiday season. Donations can be brought to Borough Hall and we ask you call 718-816-2230 when arriving. The switch to light the tree was pulled by Vito, along with Santa, the Ollis Family, Maria Ribaudo, and Frankie the FerryHawk. Following the tree lighting, the guests were invited into Borough Hall to take photos with Santa. Thank you to our sponsors: Starbucks, Staten Island Community Television, Staten Island FerryHawks, and Glen Mancuso: Allstate Insurance. Borough President Vito Fossella and Kamillah Hanks Council Member-D49 around the former site of Staten Island Hospital in Tompkinsville, which has been cleared for redevelopment. Nearby, the Department of Sanitation garage on Jersey Street is set to close soon. They called this a chance to improve and enhance the area for generations to come. “We have a golden opportunity that comes along not just once in a generation, but rather once in several generations to help reshape and positively transform a historic piece of Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “We look forward to working with Council Member Hanks and other community residents to begin to map out the future of this site. I also wish to thank and commend Mayor Adams for bringing this 50-year odyssey to a positive conclusion.” They discussed possibilities for the site, including building a new educational facility with additional school seats, as well as accessible housing for young people. “I understand the significance of the site to the people of Staten Island, and I feel the best way to honor the site is to ensure its future development reflects the needs of our community,” said Council Member Hanks. “We are losing our young people to cooler, hip places like Hoboken. This site presents a great opportunity to begin to turn that tide and provide housing for young people so they can begin to build a future for themselves on Staten Island." Built in 1890, it was initially named the S.R. Smith Infirmary after a local doctor, Samuel R. Smith, and was built in the shape of a castle. It was eventually renamed Staten Island Hospital and additional structures were added. When Staten Island Hospital moved to its present-day site in Ocean Breeze in 1979, the structures fell into disrepair. The City Buildings Department declared it a hazard in 2011 and demolished it a year later. Borough President Vito Fossella and Councilmembers Joe Borelli, David Carr, and Kamillah Hanks announced Sunday that it will cost the city $580,090,000 to shelter the 23,800 asylum seekers who have come to New York City. This includes shelter stays, public school costs, basic health services, and immigration legal assistance for those who entered the city from April through early November. There will be an additional $16 million of fixed costs that the city will incur, and it is not guaranteed that any asylum seeker will be able to meet the requirements for granting of asylum.
In September, Borough President Fossella, along with the Councilmembers, penned a letter to the Independent Budget Office (IBO) of New York City to request a financial analysis on asylum seekers entering New York City. They said the model of handling this crisis is completely unsustainable citing that constant cuts are made to the current city budget. The letter reads: “It is clear that New York City finds itself dealing with a challenge not of its own making, but nevertheless our first obligation is to our citizens and to understanding the budget implications of thousands of these individuals coming to New York City amid a potential budget crisis. This comes at a time when City Hall has ordered cuts to agency budgets, which obviously will have a negative impact on the delivery of services. In addition, there are some who predict a possible recession. Moreover, the stock market downturn will have a significant effect on the New York City Retirement system. In fact, Comptroller Brad Lander projects that poor investment returns will require the City to contribute an extra $6 billion to the New York City Retirement System (NYCERS). This cascade of budget challenges will have dramatic impacts on all New Yorkers.” “We said then that this was a problem the people of Staten Island did not create. But somehow, it became a problem that the people of Staten Island, and by extension New York City, have to solve and pay for as of now,” said Borough President Fossella. “It was no surprise that when the numbers came in, that they were not low. There are priorities for taxpayer money -- to build a boardwalk, to build a park, to build roads. All that is established in a budgetary process. Taxpayer money pays for these things, and very often, we’re told, there’s no money. So, one question I would like to ask is where did this $580 million come from?” He presented other options for the money to be spent: “This invoice should be forwarded to the federal government to pick up the tab that they created. The federal government can step up and provide more people to review these cases so we can solve this problem faster and so this tab doesn’t grow at its present rate. For those of us who are more fiscally conservative, we would prefer to send a check. There are about 165,000 households on Staten Island. We would like to send a check for about $3,500 to every household. So, we ask the people, would you prefer to spend the $580 million on this situation or to send a check for $3,500 to every household on Staten Island?” “This is money that could be used to keep our city retirees from losing their current health plan, people who have worked tirelessly for years paying their taxes with the dream of retiring one day,” said Minority Leader Joseph Borelli. “Individuals cannot be allowed to continue to take advantage of our city’s generosity, of our absurd sanctuary city laws, our state’s right to shelter requirement and continue to run up the tab that could be going to Staten Islanders and other New Yorkers,” said Council Member David Carr. “The reality is we do have other needs in this borough that we are fighting to meet each and every day. This is just simply not sustainable, and it is not fair to our borough and our city.” Here are a few highlights:
Find the full report here: https://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/ibo-asylum-seeker-letter-and-memo-november2022.pdf Once Borough President Vito Fossella heard the news that a man tore down an American Flag displayed outside Ariemma’s Italian Deli, he had his office call deli owner Mario Ariemma and assure him that he would be getting a new American Flag and that this vandalism of his property and our nation’s flag would not go unanswered.
Borough President Fossella was joined by Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Tannousis and Councilman David Carr this morning to present a flag to Mr. Ariemma. “This is an act of vandalism against one of our respected small businesses and an act of desecration of the American Flag,” said Borough President Fossella. “We have provided a new American Flag to Mr. Ariemma. It demonstrates that we ‘have the backs’ of our small business owners and we have respect for the flag.” “Our American Flag is a symbol of freedom and hope for so many around the world and in our community,” said Congresswoman Malliotakis. “It’s shameful and saddens us that someone would vandalize Mr. Ariemma’s property and our beautiful flag. I’m happy to join my colleagues in replacing the flag for this small business that is a staple in our community.” “For someone to tear down and destroy the American flag is disgraceful and a slap in the face to the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect our nation,” said Assemblyman Tannousis. “This type of despicable behavior will not be tolerated in our community. I commend my partners in government for standing up against this type of behavior and replacing the flag so it can be displayed proudly.” “The American flag represents the freedoms and democratic ideals this country stands for. Our community will not stand for flag desecration or theft,” said Council Member David Carr. “Thank you to BP Fossella for providing a new flag to Ariemma’s Italian Deli so it can once again proudly wave over this corner of the community.” There were 24 lives lost, neighborhoods devastated, homes destroyed, boats ripped from their moorings, vehicles submerged under water, and precious photographs gone forever when Hurricane Sandy slammed into Staten Island’s shores on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012.
In the days, weeks, and months that followed a resiliency grew with neighbors, strangers, community leaders, and the brave men and women of the FDNY, NYPD and Sanitation Department uniting to clean up debris, distributing food, clothing and water, offering shelter and finding words of comfort amid the rubble and the grief. Borough President Vito Fossella commemorated the 10 years that have passed with a solemn ceremony at Miller Field, once a staging ground for recovery operations. He was joined by Mayor Eric Adams, a contingent of elected and city officials, those on the frontlines, and those impacted directly by the storm.A lone violinist played, her music a symbol of the last 10 years: Reflection, hope, and renewal. “There’s a handful of events in life when you can say you remember where you were, and Superstorm Sandy is one of them,” said Borough President Fossella, standing on the beach. “Today, we remember not only where we were, but we remember those we lost.” He then read the names of the 24 victims, some from the same family -- a father and daughter; a father and son; a sister and brother; a couple married for 26 years, and the youngest, brothers Brendan Moore, 2, and Conner Moore 4, who were swept away from their mother when a wall of water flooded their SUV on Father Capodanno Boulevard. “When a storm hits our shores, we are not Democrats or Republicans,” said Mayor Adams. “Some of those storms come from the sky as in a hurricane, but they also came in a form of terrorism on 9/11, they came in the form of COVID, they came in the form of monkeypox, and they come in the form of the financial challenges that we're facing today. When you sit down and do an analysis of who we are, sometimes we’re going to take different roles, but we all want one destination -- we want a strong and healthy New York and a strong and healthy America." We commend Mayor Adams and his announcement today for stating that the thousands of migrants flooding New York City is completely unsustainable. We said the same weeks ago.
In fact, I and three of our council members of the Staten Island delegation sent a letter to the New York City Independent Budget Office asking for a cost analysis of migrant families coming into the city who will impact the boroughs’ resources. We are pleased the Mayor has stated strongly how this will impact all New Yorkers and cost us upwards of $1 billion, if not more. This is a problem our city did not create. It is a federal issue which requires a federal solution. If the city expects to spend at least $1 billion on this crisis, by our math, that’s almost $60,000 being spent per person for the 17,000 migrants NYC has accepted so far. As we await a final report from IBO, we will continue to seek to work with the Adams administration to get to a solution that steers into a different direction. This report is expected to be complete within the next two weeks. There isn’t a more generous country than the United States and the people of Staten Island are always willing to help those in need - whether it is food, clothing, or shelter. It is not about this notion of a lack of compassion or understanding, but that Staten Islanders are forced to deal with an issue they did not create. Earlier this week, our office stood with Congresswoman Malliotakis, Councilmembers Carr and Borelli, and members of the Travis Civic Association outside the Comfort Inn in Travis to oppose the stay of migrant families who were placed in the neighborhood without notice. We reiterated, as we had done in the letter to IBO, that the instability of this approach is the beginning of no end in sight. City Hall recently announced that city agencies have to cut their budgets and inevitably will translate to cuts for Staten Island and other New Yorkers. The Mayor has issued a warning to the federal government, and to state and fellow citizens that we need a course of action immediately. We need better answers, we need a better solution, and we stand ready to work with Mayor Adams to solve this problem New York did not create. Borough President Vito J. Fossella and fellow elected officials have sent a letter to Department of Education Chancellor David Banks and Department of Mental Health & Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan requesting that they reconsider the COVID-19 guidance for parents and students as the new school year begins next week. Currently, unvaccinated parents are prohibited from coming into a DOE school building and unvaccinated students are not allowed to play in after-school sports programs.
In the letter, they cite how important parent involvement is needed, especially after almost two years of interrupted school sessions due to the pandemic. It states: “While well-intentioned and noble, some of the decisions in the past have negatively affected many children. Evidence suggests that cases of mental illness in school-aged children are on the rise and low-test scores are sadly becoming the norm. We urge you to reconsider and reverse the policies regarding unvaccinated parents and children. Unvaccinated parents have not been in their child’s school for over two years and have missed out on critical moments including meetings, events, award ceremonies, and graduations. NYC DOE student enrollment is down, and parents are showing their opposition to these overreaching policies by removing their children from DOE schools. Furthermore, unvaccinated children who have been welcomed back to school are prohibited from participating in many after school sport programs, which is proven to be instrumental for a well-rounded education.” They also refer to when New York City lifted restrictions for other activities and locations where large gatherings can take place. “Months ago, New York City rightly relaxed all of its in-person restrictions for the unvaccinated to attend indoor sporting events, concerts, all entertainment venues, or to simply enjoy indoor dining or going to the gym. As the DOE COVID-19 guidance stands now, unvaccinated parents are not allowed into their child’s NYC DOE school building for back-to-school events, socials, PTA meetings, parent-teacher conferences, fundraising, parent workshops, or any in-school events with their child.” The letter was signed by Congressmember Nicole Malliotakis; Senator Andrew Lanza; Councilmembers David Carr and Joseph Borelli; Assemblymembers Michael Reilly and Michael Tannousis. Borough President Vito J. Fossella is pleased to announce his appointment of Aaron Bogad as the Staten Island representative to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP).
The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) consists of 15 appointed members and the Chancellor. Each borough president appoints one member, CEC Presidents elect one member, and the mayor appoints the remaining nine members. The Chancellor serves as an ex-officio non-voting member. Aaron Bogad is the immediate past president of The Staten Island Federation of PTAs and has held that position for the last 5 years. Mr. Bogad has been a member of the Community Education Council 31 since 2015, three of those years as President of the CEC. Previous positions include President of the District 31 High School President's Council, and a member of the District Leadership Team where he represented families on the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Committee. For the past 13 years, Mr. Bogad has held many positions, including PTA President and PTA Treasurer, and has been a part of many working groups within the district and DOE Central. He also has been involved locally, previously serving as a board member for 5 years at the Arden Heights Jewish Center. For the past 12 years, Mr. Bogad has coached youth softball where he remains a USA Softball Certified Coach in his daughter’s travel softball organization. Mr. Bogand and his wife have three daughters, one of them who attends a New York City public high school. “We are pleased that Aaron has accepted this appointment, and are confident he will work well with us to make the best decisions for our school community,” said Borough President Fossella. “Our priorities for Staten Island include robust academic achievement, enhanced school safety, expanded sports programs, innovative education, and public/private partnerships to help our students. Additionally, I thank Jaclyn Tacoronte for her service on the PEP.” “After suffering career ending injuries on September 11, 2001, while working as a NYC EMS Emergency Medical Technician that responded to the World Trade Center, I decided that I needed to do whatever I could physically and emotionally to make things better for my daughters as well as the children in our district,” said Mr. Bogad. “I thank Borough President Fossella for the opportunity to continue my work supporting our schools. It has been and remains to be a huge honor and a privilege to serve our community.” We gathered under solemn skies at the Postcards Memorial on Sunday to remember those lost in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the First Responders who have died in the years since due to their work at Ground Zero.
“I am honored to continue this tribute of remembrance and reflection,” said Borough President Vito Fossella. Bishop John O’Hara, the Episcopal Vicar of Staten Island and southern Manhattan, delivered the invocation, and the Rev. Dr. Victor Brown, the Pastor of Mount Sinai United Christian Church, delivered the benediction. Gov. Kathy Hochul offered remarks. There were musical selections throughout the evening and an FDNY Marine Division boat sprayed water in the harbor. Bells tolled during the 9/11 Tribute Readings and the First Responders Tribute Readings. A moment of silence was held. “There’s an old saying ‘make a memory every day’ -- tragically one thing 9/11 did was to prevent and destroy so many possible memories for so many families from being made,” said Borough President Fossella. “In fact, it’s been 7,671 days since that fateful day. If you take the number of those who perished and add up all those days, you get close to 2 million. That’s 2 million memories that didn’t occur -- memories like that of a newborn child, a first birthday, a first day of school, a graduation day, a first job, a walk down the aisle or something as simple and precious as a walk in the park.” As the ceremony concluded, roses were placed between the silhouettes of the Postcards Memorial and on the rain-slicked panels of the First Responders Memorial. Several residents brought attention to an approved traffic conversion on Swinnerton Street during a recent Tottenville Civic Association Meeting. The conversion would change the street’s one-way traffic pattern to a two-way street. Residents said that they were never notified of the conversion and its approval, and were displeased at this process.
DOT Borough Commissioner Roseann Caruana said she was unaware of this approval and would investigate. Within one day, the Commissioner was able to identify the miscommunication among the neighborhood, and stopped the conversion altogether after listening to the concerned residents of Swinnerton Street. We are very pleased and thankful for Borough Commissioner Caruana’s swift and positive response to a community concern. The evidence of a job well done came from the residents, primarily of Swinnerton Street, who were grateful to the DOT team for their actions. Commissioner Caruana and her team deserve credit for reacting so quickly and responsibly to the matter. BIDs across the borough a priority in budget for cleanup efforts Borough President Vito J. Fossella was joined by Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jesscia Tisch today to announce $70,000 in discretionary funds from our office to business improvement districts and merchant associations across Staten Island for beautification of their corridors, particularly in the removal of litter. A Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographical area where involved businesses oversee and fund the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of their commercial district. There are over 70 BIDs in New York City with approximately $160 million invested in NYC neighborhoods annually. All Staten Island BIDs maintain the public spaces within their district, including any clean up of their corridor, and program their district with events that directly impact the surrounding neighborhood. The entities that received the funding include the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) and their various neighborhood development projects, the South Shore BID, Forest Avenue BID, and the West Brighton LDC. This funding is part of a broader citywide commitment to cleaner streets, and comes on the heels of an unprecedented $40 million investment by the Adams Administration that took effect earlier this year. These funds take street cleanliness significantly beyond pre-pandemic levels, and will cover 50,000 more litter-basket collections per week, new Precision Cleaning teams in the districts with the greatest need, and ongoing efforts to keep vacant lots from becoming filthy eyesores. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to use taxpayer money to invest in several of Staten Island’s business improvement districts for their cleanup efforts, beautification services, and so much more,” said Borough President Vito J. Fossella. “These funds not only strengthen the economic landscape of the borough, but also give us a chance to show that cleaning up our borough is one of our top priorities, from West Brighton to Tottenville. I want to thank DSNY Commissioner Tisch for not only joining us today, but also supporting the work of our businesses and the vitality they provide to all of Staten Island.” “New York’s recovery hinges on clean streets, and that’s going to take a real investment from every part of government,” said Jessica Tisch, Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation. “I want to thank Borough President Fossella for this investment, and look forward to supporting the various Staten Island BIDs in their important work of bringing New York back clean, healthy, and safe.” "One of the most frequently identified needs of Business Improvement Districts and merchant associations is beautification and maintenance. The appearance and general cleanliness of an area can make a significant difference in its ability to attract shoppers," said Gina Gutman, Interim President of the SIEDC. "We're very thankful to Borough President Fossella for his support of our commercial districts and particularly the funding he provided for work in Rosebank, Graniteville and North Hylan.” “Staten Island’s Business Improvement Districts have made significant investments in their communities, and we are thrilled to see their efforts supplemented by Borough President Fossella and DSNY Commissioner Tisch,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. “This investment not only works toward beautifying our commercial corridors, but also ensures that our shopping districts are safe and welcoming for customers.” “On behalf of the West Brighton LDC and the Forest Avenue BID we are thankful to Borough President Vito Fossella for providing funding for sanitation and beautification of the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District commercial corridor. Having a clean corridor not only supports the local economy, it enhances the quality of life for our neighborhood businesses and residents,” said Nina Flores, Executive Director of West Brighton LDC and Forest Avenue BID. Watch the full press conference here. Statement from Borough President Vito J. Fossella Commending NYPD for Efforts in Carjacking Incident7/27/2022
Yesterday afternoon, a Staten Islander was carjacked at gunpoint while at a gas station in Richmond Valley. Due to the swift response of NYPD officers to the scene, a description of the criminal and the vehicle taken was shared with all Staten Island precincts and highway units.
It is important to note that within minutes, the NYPD were able to work with agencies across the bridge to track down the vehicle which was eventually recovered in Jersey City. This recovery also resulted in the arrest of one perpetrator involved. This situation follows the increasing trend of crimes committed throughout New York City, specifically the recent assaults on a bodega worker, and a police officer in a Manhattan subway station. These incidents endanger our neighborhoods and communities. We would like to take this opportunity to commend, and support, the men and women of the NYPD and surrounding agencies for their excellent work in this matter. Statement from Borough President Vito J. Fossella regarding Police Officer Assault in Subway Station7/25/2022
On the heels of a bodega worker getting attacked and then arrested for murder, we now have a 16-year-old criminal fighting a police officer in a subway station, putting the officer in a chokehold, and then being released within 24 hours. The world is upside-down when people lose the right to defend themselves and police officers can be assaulted without consequence. This is a signal that should never be sent. Recently, the MTA released a survey which stated the number one concern New Yorkers have about using public transportation is personal safety. Too many people are afraid to ride the subway. After seeing this video, can you blame them? The reason people feel unsafe on the subways is because the subways are unsafe. There are too many criminals loose without bail. Until bail reform is fixed, public safety in New York is going to remain broken. I don’t blame anyone for avoiding the subways until bail policies are addressed. Borough President Vito Fossella, Councilmember David Carr Allocate $13.7MFor New Dorp HS Fields6/30/2022
Borough President Vito Fossella and Councilmember David Carr have announced an allocation of $13.7 million to New Dorp High School to renovate the softball and baseball fields on the campus.
The fields are expected to receive new turf on both fields, new drainage, new bleachers and other necessary upgrades. NDHS Principal Seth Schoenfeld, former Principal Deirdre DeAngelis, and members of the NDHS athletic community had been advocating for this project to become a priority. Borough President Fossella and Councilmember Carr set to work in this year’s budget negotiations to ensure that this need was met. Borough President Fossella asked Mayor Eric Adams for funding to support this project and the Mayor allocated $9 million in his latest budget. Councilmember David Carr asked City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for funds and she was able to grant $2.5 million for the project. The Borough President's office allocated $2.2 million from his budget. The project is expected to be in its design phase by the end of the year. “While academics are important, it is crucial that athletic and other extracurricular activities are available," said Borough President Fossella. "New Dorp High School has a rich history and tradition on Staten Island, especially its baseball and softball teams. We want to continue that tradition by building these new state-of-the-art athletic fields. Thousands of students will benefit from these needed fields. We applaud Mayor Adams’ commitment to our schoolchildren and school athletes. We appreciate this level of support that will have a lasting impact on students and staff. I want to thank Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, and Councilmember Carr for their support of this project.” It appears that the Senate has said they have the votes to block the proposed recommendation from the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission that would close the Brooklyn and Manhattan VA medical clinics, among others across the country. From the first moment this was raised, we stood shoulder to shoulder, united with Veterans across Staten Island to pledge to them that we would fight to keep these crucial facilities open. The proposal from the commission would also force all Staten Island Veterans to travel to New Jersey for care. We cannot do that to our Veterans and their families. We are pleased that for now this proposal appears to be off the table, but we will remain committed to our Veteran community in the event this recommendation comes up again. Statement from Borough President Vito J. Fossella regarding court ruling on Non-Citizen Voting6/27/2022
We initiated our lawsuit to make an argument for common sense. We knew from day one that the New York State Constitution prohibits non-citizens from voting in our municipal elections. We had to stand up for reason, common sense, and the citizens of our borough, city and state.
Whether it was one million or one non-citizen who would have been granted the right to vote – it was wrong. It would have diluted the votes of our own citizens, and begs the question: why should citizens from other countries be allowed to vote in our local municipal elections? We applaud the court’s decision -it’s a victory for every citizen of our borough and city. Free concerts to take place every Thursday night starting June 30th; special concert featuring Vito Picone and the Elegants on Saturday, August 20th
Borough President Vito J. Fossella is pleased to announce the dates and lineup for his 2022 Sounds of Summer Concert Series. All concerts will take place at 7pm, with the exception of August 18th and August 20th when the concerts will begin at 6:30pm. The Thursday night concert schedule is as follows: June 30th— Silver Lake Park (Forest Ave. at Haven Esplanade) featuring Grounded4Life and Cause & the Effects July 7th— Wolfe’s Pond Park (Cornelia Ave. and Chester Ave.) featuring The Karlus Trapp Band and The Resistance July 14th— Midland Beach Splaza (Fr. Capodanno Blvd. at Seaview Ave) featuring Vinnie Medugno & the Chiclettes with the CODA Band July 21st — Conference House Park (298 Satterlee Street) featuring Generations and JC & The Funtime Band July 28th— Historic Richmond Town (441 Clarke Ave.) featuring Just Friends August 4th— Bloomingdale Park (Ramona Ave. and Lenevar Ave.) featuring Goon Dads and Wicked Revival August 11th— Snug Harbor Cultural Center (1000 Richmond Terrace) featuring Hughie Lynch and Joan Caddell and the Midnight Choir August 18th— Fort Wadsworth (210 New York Avenue) featuring Lina Fiscardi and The Black Ties at 6:30pm August 25th— Westerleigh Park (Neal Dow Ave. and Maine Ave.) featuring JD & the All Stars and T-N-T with Mike Campbell A special concert with headliners Vito Picone and the Elegants featuring Bob D’Andrea and The Dreamers will take place on Saturday, August 20th at 6:30pm at Midland Beach Turtle Circle (Fr. Capodanno Blvd. at Hunter Ave). “We are pleased to continue the summer concert series which invites all Staten Islanders to enjoy free entertainment in parks across the borough,” said Borough President Fossella. “We want to thank the talent who are sharing their musical gifts with us, as we look forward to hearing this lineup play all summer. Enjoy!” The Sounds of Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Borough President Fossella and Councilmembers Kamillah Hanks, David Carr, and Joe Borelli. Please note that shows will be cancelled in the event of extreme weather for safety reasons. For more information, visit www.statenislandusa.com/summerconcerts, Facebook page, or call 718-816-2133. Award honors fallen principal, nominations currently being accepted
Borough President Vito J. Fossella has announced that nominations are currently being accepted for the Patrick F. Daly Award. This award goes to two educators who exemplify the values of fallen principal Patrick Daly, who was gunned down in Red Hook, Brooklyn thirty years ago while searching for a student who had left the school building. “It is an honor to continue this award that pays tribute to the legacy and life of fallen principal Mr. Patrick Daly,” said BP Fossella. “Educators often go beyond the walls of the classroom to make an impact on their students. I look forward to recognizing two of them with this award.” Anyone who wishes to nominate a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, or principal may do so. The award will be given in Mr. Daly’s memory, honoring his legacy of service to the community, his steadfast commitment to his students, and his leadership. “I would like to express my gratitude to Borough President Fossella for honoring my uncle’s dedication to his students and remembering his tragic sacrifice. It is a privilege to honor Staten Island’s truly great educators in his memory,” said David Pascarella, nephew of the fallen educator. "On behalf of the Daly family, I want to thank the Borough President for continuing to honor Staten Island's educators and my father's legacy with this award. I look forward to meeting this year's recipients,” said Pat Daly, son of the fallen educator. Nominations are currently being accepted for the award until July 15. For full details, please visit https://www.statenislandusa.com/patrickdalynomination.html. Statement from Borough President Vito J. Fossella on Department Of Building’s Expanded Hours6/13/2022
We want to commend Mayor Adams and Department of Buildings Commissioner Ulrich for their recent announcement of extended hours every Tuesday that will be available to any homeowner, tenant, small business owner, or building manager who require assistance.
Constituents will be able to speak directly with staff about a number of buildings related issues – from renovation planning to addressing an open violation on a property, and using the online resources already available. This effort by the Department of Buildings is an example of how our government can work effectively for Staten Island, and for the people of New York City. We encourage Staten Islanders to take advantage of this resource and come to Borough Hall’s second floor from 4p.m. to 7p.m. every Tuesday if help is needed. Local reps from city agencies join together to discuss solutions for SI litter issue Borough President Vito J. Fossella and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon hosted representatives from various city agencies at Borough Hall yesterday to discuss long and short term solutions to the litter problem Staten Islanders encounter every day. DOT Borough Commissioner Roseann Caruana and Parks Borough Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone were also in attendance. This litter summit follows the debut of BP Fossella’s litter initiative “Don’t Trash On Me” which brings collaborative attention and effort to the fight in keeping Staten Island clean by encouraging residents to join a cleanup, organize their own, or report locations to our office. This long-term campaign also invites city agencies to work together to improve the standards of excellence in the Staten Island community when it comes to litter. Additionally, it complements DA McMahon’s litter efforts around the borough including the removal of illegal signs, graffiti cleanup, litter enforcement and more. “We are committed to work with anybody to get Staten Island clean. While there are many individuals and groups that graciously volunteer and sponsor cleanups, the hard reality is we need the help of City agencies to do the job right,” said Borough President Fossella. “They have the manpower and resources to resolve our current issues with litter. Fortunately, DA McMahon and I met with the leaders of these key agencies, and there seems to be a strong desire to tackle the litter problem in a collaborative way. It was a good start, and we will continue to keep it in focus.” “I was proud to join Borough President Fossella to meet with various City agencies all crucial to our fight against litter, and we welcome these continued partnerships to assist in our mission to keep Staten Island clean and safe,” said DA McMahon. “As the summer months begin, we will work tirelessly to prevent litter and trash from piling up in our communities and also hold accountable those who use our borough as their personal dumping ground through vigorous enforcement actions and hefty fines. My team and I look forward to joining forces once again with our partners in the community, law enforcement, and government to participate in cleanups all over Staten Island as we work to keep our streets safe and improve the quality of life in our borough." Representatives from the New York Police Department, Department of Sanitation, and Department of Environmental Protection were also in attendance. Staten Islanders who participate in cleanups are encouraged to post before and after photos on social media with the hashtag #DontTrashOnMe to be re-posted. If you see an area that needs cleaning, please reach out to our litter liaisons, or report it through the BP Assist App which can be found in the App Store and Google Play. Litter liaisons: Tiffany Arguello at 718-816-2069 or TArguello@statenislandusa.com Zsakee Lewis at 718-816-2147 or ZLewis@statenislandusa.com Elected officials, medical professionals, and not-for-profit leaders work together to expand program
Borough President Vito J. Fossella and his public health team are pleased to continue the work of a three-year Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) grant given to Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) by hosting a cancer roundtable with local elected officials, medical professionals, community leaders and not-for-profit organizations. The goal is to expand the program to additional community partner sites across Staten Island which can adopt their own sun safety policies, and extend to clinical partners to improve HPV vaccination, in an effort to reduce skin and HPV related cancer rates across the borough. Compared to the other four boroughs of New York City, Staten Island has a higher incidence of melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. With this grant, HICCC will work with the Borough President’s Office and Richmond University Medical Center to reduce skin cancer rates in Staten Island by raising awareness about the dangers of indoor tanning and the importance of widespread adoption of sun safety practices like seeking shade and using sunscreen for skin cancer prevention. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, Children’s Aid- Goodhue Center, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, and the Richmond University Medical Center’s School-Based Health Center at Susan E. Wagner High School have designed and adopted sun safety policies that encourage providing free sunscreen, displaying sun safety information, and providing sun safety training for staff. “Our goal is to highlight the fact that there are so many of these cases of skin and HPV related cancers across the borough,” said Borough President Fossella. “This roundtable will help be the first step to spread awareness of this program which is available to community organizations and clinical offices. We want to thank our partners and beyond for their efforts in this important endeavor.” “We are proud to partner with the Borough President’s office, HICCC, and all of our community partners to bring sun safety programming to our Day Camp and Cornerstone programs. We know that taking proactive steps will help young people prevent cancer in the future, and we’re grateful to be able to play a role in educating our youth on the importance of prevention,” said Orit Lender, JCC CEO. The grant will also address improving the low rates of HPV vaccination across Staten Island. Staten Island has the lowest rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations within the five boroughs with only about 1 in 4 adolescents (ages 13 to 17) having completed the HPV vaccination series. This rate is also significantly lower than New York State’s average of about 55%. HPV can cause six different types of cancers in both men and women, and is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. The program will work to improve awareness about the protective benefits of the HPV vaccine and provide educational opportunities to community organizations, schools, and healthcare providers. Additionally, the grant will also work with both the Staten Island hospitals, various school based health centers and other clinical partners to improve HPV vaccination rates throughout the borough. “We are so grateful for our partnership with the team at the Columbia Herbert Irving Cancer Center. They have not only helped in identifying the true needs and gaps of our community, but have been able to bring much needed resources for Staten Island through the CPiA grant,” said Dr. Ginny Mantello, Director of Health and Wellness for Borough President Fossella. “We will continue to work with them beyond this grant to identify other resources around cancer prevention and education for the clinical and community based partners.” “The roundtable provided an excellent forum to dialogue with our colleagues on population health concerns such as skin cancer and HPV among Staten Islanders,” said MR. Richard J. Salhany, MBA, FACHE, Chief Administrative Officer from Richmond University Medical Center. “We share a common goal of improving the health of the community through prevention, outreach and treatment.” This roundtable was designed to help elected officials and other community leaders learn about ongoing cancer prevention work on Staten Island, discuss work under the grant, provide an overview of the three main ways to work on cancer prevention in adolescents, and discuss how to leverage partnerships to reduce cancer rates in Staten Island. “The Cancer Prevention Roundtable was a great opportunity for us to talk to Staten Island elected officials about how they can work with the Cancer Prevention in Action program. We had a great discussion about the need for sun safety programming and HPV vaccination education in order to reduce cancer rates on Staten Island,” said Maya Lipsman, Project Director for Cancer Prevention in Action. “As trusted leaders in their communities, people listen to what elected officials have to say, so we hope that we can partner with them to spread information about sun safety and HPV vaccination to reduce Staten Island’s cancer burden in these areas.” Background: Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) was recently awarded a three-year grant by Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) of New York State Department of Health and Health Research, Inc. The award supports the HICCC’s work on skin cancer risk reduction and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination education in Staten Island. The HICCC is the first and only site in New York City to receive this competitive award by the CPiA program. HICCC has partnered with Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) and the Office of the Staten Island Borough President to complete the activities of this grant. These partners make connections with local organizations to implement sun safety policies and deliver HPV vaccination education. |
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April 2024
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