Celebrating Louis Lupinacci's Birthday: 'We're So Lucky That He Is Still Going Strong At 100'11/9/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella presented a proclamation to Louis (Louie) Lupinacci in honor of his 100th birthday during a centennial bash on Oct. 9 at the Staaten.
The proclamation declared Oct. 9 as “Louis (Louie) Lupinacci Day” in the “Borough of Staten Island.” “Louis Lupinacci epitomizes what is great about Staten Island and America,” said Borough President Fossella. “From his service during World War II to his selfless commitment to the much-loved Kiwanis Club and the Staten Island community, Louis has led by example, with compassion, kindness, determination, and persistence. Faith, family, friendship, and freedom are at the core of Louie. We’re so lucky that he is still going strong at 100.” Affectionally known as Uncle Louie, he was born to Margaret and Vincent Lupinacci on September 13, 1924, and grew up on 57 Mott Street in New York City. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and trained as a machine gunner at Fort Sheridan. He landed in the first wave on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy and continued securing beaches throughout the European War Theatre. Upon his discharge, Mr. Lupinacci returned home and was employed in a frozen fish packing company before his uncle secured him a job at a construction company. Mr. Lupinacci met his future wife, Nancy, while she was working at Chemical Bank on Canal Street in Manhattan with his sister, Camille. They were married in St. Mary’s Church in Rosebank on January 20, 1951, and held their reception at the Murat Club in St. George. They traveled by train through Canada for their honeymoon and settled in Rosebank upon their return home. The couple were married for 56 years before Nancy’s passing in August 2007. In 2008, at the age of 84, Mr. Lupinacci traveled to Hong Kong to visit his godchild, Veronica, and her family. In 2013, he traveled with Veronica, and her husband, Eddie, to France, where they visited the first tower he liberated and visited the exact spot where he landed at Normandy. During a visit to a World War II cemetery, a flag was poignantly raised in his honor. (Photo courtesy of the Lupinacci family)  Borough President Vito Fossella is accepting nominations of educators and school administrators for the 2024 Patrick F. Daly Award, which celebrates those who dedicate their lives to providing the best for their students.
The Patrick F. Daly Award, established in 1992, honors former P.S. 15 Principal Patrick F. Daly, who dedicated his career and life to the betterment of his students and tragically died in 1992 while searching for a missing student in the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn. “There is something so important and special about a good educator in a kid’s life, and on Staten Island, we are very fortunate to have some great teachers and administrators who give their all to see our young people learn and succeed," said Borough President Fossella. "It is our pleasure to honor some of these good educators every year, and we invite Staten Islanders to nominate someone they know who have made tremendous impacts on the lives of their children and many others.” Nominations can be made on the Borough Hall website.  The Gold bracket of the inaugural Staten Island Borough President’s Cup Girls' Volleyball Tournament brought more friendly competition to Susan Wagner High School.
St. Joseph Hill Academy took home the gold. The Wagner High School Falcons were the runners-up. The tournament was divided into two mixed brackets and brought together 13 teams from Staten Island’s public high schools, CHSSA, and Staten Island Academy over the last two weekends. In the Silver bracket, which was played on Oct. 6, the New Dorp High School Central Cougars won first place and the Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island Gators were the runners-up. Missed the action? Watch it on website of Community Media of Staten Island. Congratulations to all the players and their coaches for a great tournament. Borough President Vito Fossella Cuts Ribbon On Multi-Purpose Field At Morris Intermediate School10/11/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella and Council Member Kamillah Hanks were joined by students and staff to cut the ribbon on a multi-purpose field at the William A. Morris (I.S. 61) Intermediate School this morning.
Borough President Fossella contributed $700,000 and Council Member Hanks contributed $400,000 for the project. The students made a presentation to Borough President Fossella at the spring meeting of the Borough Student Advisory Councils asking for assistance in repairing the field. “Just a few months ago, we were standing here in a place where the field was worn and dilapidated,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference at the school. “Now, what we have here is a great, new, first-of-its-kind on Staten Island conversion: Football field, soccer field, basketball courts, a track -- and it’s for you.” Council Member Hanks and her four children graduated from I.S. 61. “The last time I was here I was playing as a student, all my children played in this field and I am so pleased to be joined here by my partner in government, Borough President Vito Fossella,” said Council Member Hanks. “This field is a reflection of our shared commitment to the enduring legacy of I.S. 61 so it remains a place where students can thrive.” William A. Morris was the founder and first president of Staten Island’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Principal Kuzaliwa Campbell asked his students to repeat after him: “Our motivation, our ownership, our resiliency, our resolute, our insight, and our service.” “We will make sure we represent those values that William A. Morris laid out for us,” said Principal Campbell. “The legacy of the Morris family continues here and lives here in us.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, his fellow elected officials, and nonprofit organizations announced a large-scale effort to provide Hurricane Helene victims with much-needed supplies at a press conference in Borough Hall.
He referred to the widespread support Staten Island received after the attacks of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy. “When I was in Congress after 9/11, I remember so many people from around the country and around the world reaching out to see how they could help -- if there was anything the people of New York City or Staten Island needed,” said Borough President Fossella. “After Hurricane Sandy, when many neighborhoods were decimated and lives were not only ruined, but lost, people from around the country and in some cases, around the world, came to the aid and assistance of many families as they tried to rebuild and restore their lives, their homes, and their existence on Staten Island.” He said “the appropriate and the right thing to do” is to reciprocate. “We’ve seen the devastation that has occurred in the south from Florida to North Carolina, and we’re asking Staten Islanders to open up their hearts, their pocketbooks, and their wallets to give to the families who in some cases are still trying to find their loved ones,” said Borough President Fossella. “We want them to know they are not alone. There were many folks who went through Sandy feeling that perhaps they were alone, but so many came forward, they stepped up, they helped, they cleaned, they gave. There’s a lot of resiliency, there’s a lot of hope, there are a lot of prayers that are taking place. We can do our part in helping these people get their lives back together. We’re just trying to show the thousands of people who are suffering that the people of Staten Island care.” To best accomplish the gathering of items and delivery to the South, Borough President Fossella has gathered numerous partners in the community, including the International Association of Fire Fighters, Catholic Charities of Staten Island, University of Notre Dame Club Bread of Life, Amazon of Staten Island, Consolidated Edison of Staten Island, the Carl V. Bini Fund, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Borough President Vito Fossella, Elected Officials Call For Reforms To Juvenile Justice System9/23/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and District Attorney Michael McMahon called for measures to reform the juvenile justice system following two recent incidents of gun violence in Staten Island schools.
Specifically, they called for a rollback of the “The Raise Age” law. Signed into law in 2017, the legislation changed the age at which a child can be prosecuted as an adult to 18. Those younger than 18 are prosecuted in Family Court. Legislation introduced by State Senator Scarcella-Spanton would allow those under the age of 18 who are charged with serious crimes to be tried as adults in criminal court. Borough President Fossella said the frustration over the “Raise the Age” law is evident in the voices of educators, parents, and members of law enforcement. “Why the frustration -- because a lot of people who want to cause harm are allowed to get away with it, young or old,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference outside of the Staten Island Supreme Court building. “The good news is 98 percent or 99 percent of the kids on Staten Island are great kids who just want a place to learn in a safe and secure environment. But, there’s always that one or two percent who disrupt it for everybody else. For some of those people, it just gets punted over to Family Court. Let’s speak loudly in one voice on behalf of the innocent kids who just want to live free, live in peace, and live their lives.”  Borough President Vito Fossella announced that the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded a grant to support his Behavioral Health Blueprint for Staten Island Children and Young Adults.
The five-year $3.67 million Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant was awarded to the New York State Office of Mental Health. The grant will support the creation of a model to prevent youth suicide by combining clinical intervention and proactive efforts to prevent young people from feeling suicidal or developing critical mental illnesses. Borough President Fossella spoke about anecdotal incidents of youth acting out or longtime teachers witnessing behaviors they hadn’t seen before. “You start putting the pieces together and you realize that there is something more to it,” said Borough President Fossella during a press conference in Borough Hall. “So, we asked many of you a couple of years ago to establish a blueprint to ensure that the mental health and behavioral issues of young people would be addressed and resolved.” Borough President Fossella noted the blueprint is the first of its kind in the country. “So, all eyes are going to be on us and there is a good chance that this becomes a model for the rest of the United States,” he said. Dr. Marion Wilson, District 31 School Superintendent for Staten Island, thanked Borough President Fossella “for not only believing in this mission, but acting on it.” “Unfortunately, we have lost too many students to suicide and the fact that this Borough President has decided to actually take action is something that warms my heart because it helps with prevention and trying to find a cure," said Dr. Wilson. Borough President Vito Fossella Presents Bishop J. Edmund Whalen With The Albert V. Maniscalco Award9/17/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella presented Bishop Edmund J. Whalen with the 2023 Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award during a ceremony at Monsignor Farrell High School.
The Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award, established in 1986, honors our ninth Borough President and celebrates civic-minded Staten Islanders who have dedicated their lives in service for the betterment of their community. His tenure from 1955 to 1965 saw the creation of the Greenbelt and the construction of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Bishop Edmund Whalen, a West Brighton native, was ordained in 1983. His presence has been felt across the globe, including in Kenya where he served those who were underprivileged as a deacon to the Bukusu tribe. He served as the principal of Monsignor Farrell High School from 2010 until his appointment as vicar for clergy in 2019. “Normally, this service is done in a very quiet way in Borough Hall and a few family members come to speak,” said Borough President Fossella. “But, I thought if there was ever a place to have this ceremony, it would be right here at Monsignor Farrell High School, in part because Bishop Whalen basically helped to shape and create the faithful man -- as we all know, Vir Fidelis.” Borough President Fossella said Bishop Whalen found his calling at a young age -- “a calling that was meant as the essential servant to speak with the voice of God and instilling a sense of doing better always with a high degree of faith.” “In a world that moves rapidly and where there are a lot of young people who perhaps have drifted away, it was Bishop Whalen as a man of the cloth who was able to reaffirm and to ensure that every young person who walks through this school and through these doors, would have a conversation with Christ. It was the core of the faithful man that he tried to shape, that Christ is at the core of who we are.” He called Bishop Whalen a “real leader who never seeks the limelight and never asks for anything in return.” “We know there are so many folks whose lives you changed for the better,” said Borough President Fossella. “They may not know it at the age of 14 or 16, but in 20, 30, or 40 years, they will think that if it wasn’t for Bishop Whalen who knows where I would have been.” Bishop Whalen said the reason “the witness of God comes out of us is because we see it in others and it is drawn of us.” “It is an honor to receive this award from you, not only for the award itself, but more importantly because you are a true public servant in a country that seems to be forgetting that, but that is what makes Staten Island unique,” said Bishop Whalen. “Thank God for the people who are here and who bring the best out in each other. As the Borough President said, ‘learn from it, do it, live it.’ Thank you all for being here and thank you for this award.”  Borough President Vito Fossella stood in front of the soaring wings of the Postcards Memorial, which perfectly frame the spot where the Twin Towers once stood across the harbor, to reflect and remember the 267 Staten Islanders who were lost 23 years ago when the blue-sky morning turned black, breaking our skyline and our hearts forever. Hundreds gathered for the annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony amid a backdrop of American flags and the Tower Of Lights shimmering in the distance. “Twenty-three years ago was a day like today and a bunch of folks, many of them who we know just wanted to go about their life, and as we know by now, they didn’t come home,” said Borough President Fossella. “All they wanted was a life of happiness, a life of joy, to see their kids go to school, to hopefully see their kids get married, and maybe see their grandchildren -- but they didn’t get to experience those joys and those blessings. We are never going to forget their memory, their existence, their spirit. Their spirits will never die.” The processional was performed by the Staten Island Pipes & Drums and the colors were presented by U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York at Fort Wadsworth, the U.S. Army North East Medical Area, and the Fort Wadsworth Readiness Support Group. Rebecca Quilla sang the National Anthem. Bishop Peter Byrne, pastor of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, led the invocation, and Bishop Victor Brown, pastor of Mount Sinai United Christian Church, led the benediction. Gov. Kathy Hochul also offered remarks. Bells tolled, heads bowed, and tears were shed as the names of those lost on Sept. 11 and in the years since from 9/11-related illnesses were read one-by-one by their family members while an FDNY tugboat sprayed fountains of water into the harbor. The ceremony concluded with the Tottenville High School Ceremonial Taps Unit as family members gently placed roses at the Postcards Memorial and ran their fingers over the names of their loved ones forever etched into the silhouettes of the wing’s graceful curves, evoking notes sent to heaven. Our thoughts were also with those who were at the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed into an empty field in Shanksville, Pa.  Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by local elected officials, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726 President Daniel Cassella, and concerned Staten Island commuters to call out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the poor state of affairs of the local bus transit system at a press conference outside the Yukon Bus Depot.
"This is really a call to arms to the MTA to listen to the people of Staten Island, listen to the commuters who suffer disproportionately, and help us out," said Borough President Fossella during a press conference outside of the Yukon Avenue Bus Depot. Many commuters routinely report buses failing to provide reliable service and complete their routes, disrupting their daily commute. The significant number of buses in disrepair, lead to service disruptions across the borough. Currently, 304 of the 798 MTA buses serving Staten Island are either out of service or in need of repair. This situation causes frequent delays and excessive wait times for commuters. He emphasized, “If you add up all the buses on Staten Island, almost half the buses don’t go out because of mechanical issues.” The issue is partly attributed to reduced overtime for bus operators and mechanics, according to Cassella. This shortage of manpower has resulted in buses being sent out with problems such as non-functional air conditioning, broken signage, and, in extreme cases, even roaches. The pending closure of the Meredith Avenue bus depot will further strain the system and threaten to offload 75 buses and roughly 130 personnel to the other three overwhelmed depots. It will drastically disrupt traffic and bus service across the island.  Borough President Vito Fossella joined with his fellow elected officials to condemn the attack of a 62-year-old man in Sunnyside and to ask for legislative intervention in prosecuting those under the age of 18.
“We’re here today to call attention to something that happened a few weeks ago right down the block in broad daylight -- and it is frankly something that should rattle everybody across Staten Island and frankly across the city,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the corner of Clove Road and Howard Avenue, where the incident took place. He recounted that the man was out for his daily walk, minding his own business when he was surrounded by a “pack of individuals and was brutally attacked” on Monday, July 15. “In fact, while he was surrounded, he did what most people would do and tried to get away,” said Borough President Fossella, who watched a two-minute clip of the attack which shows a group of nine following the victim. “So, he ran across Clove Road and instead of letting the man go, one of the pack of these individuals chased him. He was knocked down, lost one or two teeth, was taken to the hospital where he needed surgery -- and what is even worse, the man is petrified of living here, so he is going to move.” A 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy have been charged with assault. The case will be handled in Family Court, which led the elected officials to call for a change to the Raise the Age law. The law changed the age at which a child can be prosecuted as an adult to 18. Those younger than 18 are prosecuted in Family Court. It was signed into law in 2017. “There were two arrests and we hope, there will be more,” said Borough President Fossella. “This could have been anyone’s grandparent, anyone’s child. And just as important, we don’t know if there are going to be a consequence because the trend has been 'well, they are just kids, let them go, no consequences.’ These are kids doing adult things, doing evil things. That guy could have been killed running across Clove Road -- you don’t know what could have happened.” Borough President Fossella said Family Court judges often aren't given a full accounting of the defendant. “When it goes to Family Court, the judges, from my understanding, is that they don’t know the history of the people they’ve been assigned,” he said. “So, these kids could have been doing this every day. And, then what will happen, if there is a consequence or if there is a penalty, ultimately that penalty on their record will be expunged. We will do anything we can for the individual who was attacked. Fortunately, I hope this provides a foundation of change in the direction we’re going -- to ensure that there is some accountability, and someone’s grandparent or child can walk the streets of Staten Island and the streets of the city safely.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, Council Member Joseph Borelli and the South Shore Business Improvement District partnered to beautify the area surrounding the Great Kills Veterans Memorial. They installed decorative and colorful planters after Borough Hall was contacted by the caretakers of the memorial who asked for help in maintaining the site. The planters will also serve as protective barriers. “Here in Great Kills, we have a pretty rich history and appreciation for the men and women who served in our armed forces – and in some cases have given the ultimate sacrifice,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference. “The idea was to establish this memorial to pay honor to their memory as we do every day. As a practical matter, there was some concern about some damage from people who come through here with a truck or a car.” The memorial consists of five, two-ton black granite slabs representing the service branches of the American military: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. It was dedicated in 2001, adjacent to the Staten Island Railway Station at the intersection of Nelson Avenue and Brower Court, which was the starting point for the Great Kills Memorial Parade. The parade ended its run in 2013. “I’d like to take a step back and reflect on what this truly means,” said Borough President Fossella. “We love the people behind us, and most importantly, we love what this country is all about -- and this country would not be the United States of America, but for the sacrifices of the people who gave us our freedoms."  Addressing Quality of Life Issues Surrounding Several In-Need Service Centers In Port Richmond8/19/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by members of the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance and residents of apartments at 36 Hamilton Ave. to address the growing quality-of-life concerns surrounding several nearby in-need service care centers.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been 243 calls to 911 and more than 18 arrests at the housing complex at 1544 Castleton Ave. The arrests stemmed from issues relating to drug use, trespassing, harassment, attempted robbery, and attempted assault. “Every time, the good people of Port Richmond try to do something to improve the quality-of-life for their neighbors, some entity comes in and tries to destroy it,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference at the corner of Castleton Avenue and Park Avenue. “We owe it to the business owners and the homeowners and the people renting these apartments to ensure that they have a better quality- of-life, not a worse quality-of-life. We’re calling upon those that control this entity and the agencies involved to stand up and defend and support the hardworking taxpayers of Port Richmond and not turn a blind eye and ignore their calls.” Borough President Fossella also addressed concerns of loitering, harassment, and other disorderly conduct at a drop-in center at 150 Richmond Terrace in St. George. He said there has been a lack of communication with the drop-in center’s leadership and the City Department of Homeless Services. “We have met for two years on a regular basis trying to address these issues,” said Borough President Fossella. “Not only has it not gotten better, it’s actually gotten worse. So, we’ve made every good faith effort for them to address the needs and to fix the problems and it hasn’t happened.” While acknowledging the “crucial services” the social centers provide, he said the city “has an obligation to ensure the quality-of-life for these people who just want to work hard, take care of their families, make a living and walk around their community without interruption, without being threatened -- it is something so basic and it seems to be lost.” Borough President Vito Fossella Allocates $45K To Sunrise Day Camp For Transportation Costs8/15/2024
 Borough President Vito Fossella announced an allocation of $45,000 to the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp to fund transportation for campers and their siblings.
Sunrise Day Camp is the world’s first full-summer day camp provided free-of-charge for children with cancer and their siblings. The camp is administered by the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island and is the only day camp of its kind in New York City. Located on the grounds of Staten Island Academy, the camp serves over 150 children each year with sports, music, arts & crafts, swimming, and other activities. “There is something very special and very precious that occurs on this campus every summer for about six-and-a-half weeks,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference on the last day of camp. “For these young children with cancer, it gives them not only the ability to be independent, but it gives their parents an opportunity to have a level of comfort that perhaps, things are going to be OK. The staff and the counselors give these kids a ray of light and a ray of hope into their day." Lee Guttenplan, the JCC’s chief operating officer, said "joy is the simplest form of gratitude," noting the joy on the faces of the campers and a sense of relief on the faces of their parents. “We get to see the impact of this funding everyday as children come off the bus with big smiles ready for a day of safe, fun and exciting activities to share with their friends,” he said.  For 25 years, the NYC Tourism Foundation has provided grants to support non-profit cultural centers and organizations across the five boroughs in their missions and operations. This includes over $330,000 to Staten Island cultural organizations.
“Our cultural institutions are foundational for Staten Island for the enriching and enjoying experiences they offer for our residents," said Borough President Fossella. "It is important that these organizations receive the resources they need to continue serving Staten Islanders, including informing them of the opportunities our cultural institutions offer. We are always appreciative of the NYC Tourism Foundation for their ongoing contribution to this effort." The grants are used by recipient organizations to bolster advertising and marketing initiatives. Specifically, the programs supported by these grants are focused on digital, transit and brochure advertisements. The 2024 Staten Island Borough Cultural Tourism grant recipients are as follows:
 Borough President Vito Fossella, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and members of the National Association of Letter Carriers urged the re-installment of a drive-through mailbox at the Manor Road Post Office at a press conference.
A note at the post office says the mailbox was “removed permanently due to an increase in vandalism and theft.” "This is a case where convenience and common sense gets thrown out the window because crooks take advantage of what happens not just across Staten Island, but across the city and state," said Borough President Fossella. "This is not a criticism of the postal service or the postal carriers, it's not a criticism of the NYPD. This is just highlighting what has been a good thing for this community.” He said the neighborhood residents shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of those who are committing the thefts and vandalism “We want to reinstate and replace these drop boxes here,” said Borough President Fossella. “If there are thefts, let's get the guys who do it and put them behind bars if necessary, but let's not give in. I'm optimistic that we can work out a solution to get these things back." In a joint letter to the United States Postmaster of Staten Island, they suggested the installation of security cameras and an increase in the presence of the Postal Police.  Rita Bueti still brought to tears when recalling how Borough President Vito Fossella helped her son during his deployment to Kuwait.
Her son, Michael, joined the Marines because “he wanted to support his country and fight for his country,” but he quickly became depressed “because everybody was against the war.” While in Congress, he arranged a video call for families of the men and women serving overseas to talk about both their pride in their children and their fears. In the middle, Michael called his mom and asked, “what are we doing here, why am I here, I never should have come.” Then Congressman-Fossella overheard the conversation and asked if he could speak to Michael. “He took the phone, walked away and when he came back, he gave me the phone and my son was very appreciative that he spoke to him,” said Rita who ran into Vito at Disability Pride Month on Tuesday at the College of Staten Island. “I do believe you saved my son’s life because my son was very depressed. After the phone call, my son was much better. So, I want to thank Vito Fossella for doing that and always being very supportive of the military families and the developmentally disabled because I know he does a lot for them, as well.” We thank Michael for his service to our country.  Borough President Vito Fossella condemned recent acts of vandalism in the form of graffiti on the Postcards 9/11 Memorial, a sacred site which honors the memory of the Staten Islanders who were killed on Sept. 11 and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The words “Free Palistine” with Palestine misspelled and the anti-cop acronym, “ACAB,” were scrawled onto the winged walls of the Memorial. “In this great country of ours, The First Amendment, among other things, guarantees individuals the right to speak freely and express themselves," said Borough President Fossella. "It does not guarantee individuals the right to destroy and desecrate property, especially something as meaningful as the Postcards Memorial that honors all of the Staten Islanders who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks." Borough President Fossella immediately reached out to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which maintains the site, and the graffiti was quickly removed. “We are grateful for the continued collaboration between our offices that have seen great improvements and beautifications to the site and are thankful for the help and partnership to preserve this memorial as a sacred place,” he said.  Borough President Vito Fossella celebrated a unique act of kindness and friendship between Zamier Davis, who strived to make the Honor Roll at Edwin Markham Intermediate School, and Wail Alselwi, the manager of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery in Port Richmond, who provided the incentive.
Zamier, a regular customer of the deli, made a habit of showing his report cards to Wail. He always made Merit Roll, but he wanted top honors. To provide the incentive, Wail made a promise to Zamier: Once he achieved Honor Roll, he would reward him with anything he wanted from the store for free. “I wanted to get better and after getting my average up to 80, I kept pushing and I made Honor Roll with a 90 average,” said Zamier during a press conference inside the deli last week. The heartwarming story first aired on "Good Morning America" and captured the moment when Zamier ran into the store with his Honor Roll certificate. Wail's response, “You did it, go grab whatever you want.” Zameir quickly ran through the aisles with sheer delight and brought several bags of Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili to the counter. Wail has now continued the academic incentive with other kids in the neighborhood. Borough President Fossella was so moved by the gesture that he presented Zameir and Wail with Certificates of Appreciation. “We all want our children to do well in school, we all want them to do well in life,” said Borough President Fossella. “Sometimes kids, like everybody, are encouraged to do things because of different incentives -- and everybody needs the right incentives to grow. This young man was at school and maybe not doing as well as he thought he could. So, this man right here said he was going to give him an incentive to make the Honor Roll at I.S. 51. He had no obligation, he had no reason, he had no point to help this young man, but he chose to and that’s the beauty of this story.”  Borough President Vito Fossella, Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda announced the culmination of months of successful enforcement actions against dozens of smoke shops on Staten Island.
“The people who own these facilities are both deceptive and dangerous,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference. “They’re deceptive to the community and they’re dangerous because they basically attract young people at an early age and try to get them hooked on drugs.” For more than two years, Borough President Fossella has coordinated with the Sheriff’s office, forwarding constituent reports and providing updates on suspected illegal smoke shops. Borough President Fossella and Mayor Adams have jointly advocated for legislative intervention from the State to clarify the rules of enforcement and empower local law enforcement to crack down on illegal smoke shops. The 2024 New York State Budget included a provision enabling the Sheriff’s office to padlock storefronts found selling illegal marijuana, hold illegal smoke shop owners accountable, and immediately deputize the NYPD to assist in carrying out enforcement actions. On the heels of the expansion of enforcement powers granted by the State, the Sheriff Joint Compliance Task Force launched Operation Padlock to Protect, which conducts widespread compliance inspections. The inspections have led to arrests, summonses, seizures, and other enforcement actions, including evictions. Since the operation commenced, the task force has sealed over 535 illegal smoke shops, resulting in $43 million in civil penalties and $17.5 million in illegal products confiscated. On the day of the press conference, the task force inspected its last 20 reported Staten Island illegal smoke shop locations. Borough President Fossella vowed to continue the joint enforcement effort. “This doesn’t happen without teamwork, and it doesn’t happen without people working together to stand up for the good people of Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “This is just the beginning. These places are like whack-a-mole. They shut them down once, they’ll open three blocks away. We are going to stay on it.” Borough President Vito Fossella Allocates Funding For Track At Morris (I.S. 61) Intermediate School6/26/2024
  Borough President Vito Fossella and his office assisted Howard Gutter, a longtime Mariners Harbor resident, with restoring a sense of normalcy to his neighborhood following the three-story stacking of numerous containers on the property directly behind his backyard.
Over the past few years, Mr. Gutter and his neighbors have had to endure what appeared to be a container ship in their backyards. What started as a tire shop storing a few containers of used tires at 2246 Forest Ave. had grown into a three-story metal monstrosity while deteriorating their quality-of-life. Not only were the stacked containers a blight on their views, but some of the stacked containers allegedly contained tires, drawing concerns over possible fires. Mr. Gutter tried repeatedly to have the property owners remove the eyesore and potential fire hazard from his backyard, without any success. He contacted our office and, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), particularly Community Engagement & Programming Officer Frank Fontana and the DOB Padlock Unit, progress was finally made. DOB issued an order to the property owners to remove 16 of the containers by May 31. “Thank you so much again for all your help," said Mr. Gutter. "I kept calling around, and nothing got done. Finally, I reached y’all guys, and you got things done. I didn’t mess with the shop until they started stacking these tires three-stories high. The problem with those toxic tires, and nobody was policing what they were doing -- it wasn’t right. I just wanted the containers moved.” Borough President Fossella recently visited Mr. Gutter for a first-hand look at his backyard before the containers were removed. “All Mr. Gutter wanted to do was enjoy his backyard and the view, and that was unfortunately taken away from him,” said Borough President Fossella. “We were more than happy to help. Any time we can help a Staten Islander with a quality-of-life issue -- that is what we’re here for. We thank Frank Fontana and our partners at the Department of Buildings Padlock Unit for working with us to help this man out.”  Borough President Vito Fossella joined with a bipartisan coalition of elected officials, along with community groups, to protest a planned migrant shelter at Faith United Methodist Church in Port Richmond.
He said they were told “out of the blue” and “in the dark of night” that the proposed shelter would house 15 single males seeking asylum in the United States. “Some people in this community, volunteers, wake up every day trying to figure out, ‘how do we make Port Richmond better? How do we make the North Shore better?’” said Borough President Vito Fossella at a press conference outside of the church. “And then along come the agencies, [which] say, ‘Guess what? Here’s a way we can make it better: 'We’re gonna dump a migrant shelter right in the middle of your neighborhood.' How is that any degree of common sense?” Borough President Fossella said the elected officials vow to continue fighting the proposed Port Richmond shelter and any others proposed for or placed on Staten Island in the future. “We stand united in one voice to say this is wrong for the people of Staten Island, this is wrong for the community of Port Richmond,” he said.  Borough President Vito Fossella announced a $1.9 million capital allocation to Richmond University Medical Center to acquire a second state-of-the-art da Vinci Robotic Surgical System during a press conference in the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Surgical Pavilion.
The da Vinci system, which is used in hospitals around the world, offers several advantages in the operating room, including greater prevision and access to surgical sites, mitigating infection, pain, and the need for opiates. It also improves recovery time and outcomes. It can be used for bariatric, thoracic, gynecological, urological, colorectal, and hernia procedures. Additionally, the efficiency associated with the da Vinci system helps avoid delays in scheduling surgeries. “RUMC is home to so many healthcare professionals who want the best for the people of Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “When I did a walk-through with RUMC recently, they told me they needed another robotic system to deliver the best quality-of-care to Staten Islanders. It’s a game-changer.” Dr. Daniel Messina, RUMC president, said the addition of a second robotic system “will truly advance the surgery” provided for patients. “This is the same robotic system you will find in the most esteemed healthcare systems and academic places -- and not just here regionally, not just in the United States, but around the world,” said Dr. Messina. “Now, you can find it right here on Staten Island in Richmond University Medical Center." Dr. Messina said more than 80% of the surgical staff are trained in performing robotic surgery. Of the nearly 11,000 surgeries performed at RUMC last year, there were 8,000 performed using the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System. “I can tell you there was a big tug-of-war for the one system that we had and now with the support of our Borough President, we will avoid that situation,” said Dr. Messina. “Robotic surgery continues to be the future of surgery and that future was part of the planning process when we designed our new surgical pavilion. Thanks to Borough President Fossella, we now have the technology that will take us to the next level.”  Borough President Vito Fossella joined his fellow elected officials as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced a $10 million investment to install enhanced license place readers at the Bayonne Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing.
They are already in use at the Goethals Bridge. License plate readers collect digitally readable images of vehicle license plates that are used to locate stolen vehicles or vehicles used in other criminal activity, or to identify vehicles involved with missing persons such as children and the elderly. While the Port Authority Police Department has been deploying mobile readers at the Bayonne Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing, permanent readers use higher resolution cameras that are installed at locations optimal for more precise collection of data, which can be shared in real-time with law enforcement partners for investigations and prosecutions. License plate readers are a tool to combat stolen cars, and while car thefts are down over the last two years, the scanners should drive those numbers down even more. “We will continue to highlight the need for tougher measures and additional tools to stop thieves from stealing cars,” said Borough President Fossella at the Port Authority’s press conference on Monday at the Goethals Bridge. “Progress has been made, and we need to remain vigilant. We have maintained that license plate readers would be an additional and effective tool to reduce car thefts even more. We thank the District Attorney, NYPD and the Port Authority for their efforts and willingness to install these readers.” In addition to those already in use on the Goethals Bridge, the Port Authority’s investment will bring the total number of license plate readers to 40, which will include 24 new readers at the Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing. They are expected to be installed by 2026. |
