TONY & JULIA: The Lips Story

I came across this blog from New York Views a Sporadical, and I wanted to share it with you.

So typical of the press. Give them a serious issue like child obesity and instead of reporting on it, they focus on what kookie fitness guru Richard Simmons said at a recent press conference sponsored by Council Member Tony Avella ... that Avella has lips like Julia Roberts. Oi vey! What was he thinking!Avella is introducing a resolution asking Congress to pass the FIT Kids Act, which would require state and community educational agencies to produce annual reports on health and physical education programs. The most serious report was from the NY Times. But back to the lips comment ... Funny? Maybe…. But at least Tony has lips.

Did you ever notice King Bloomberg’s? – his top lip looks like it is glued to his front teeth. I’ve always wondered if he just finished eating a peanut butter sandwich or maybe it is a permanent application of rubber cement or crazy glue and he just cannot help it.Yes - this lip story has legs – but not the obesity story. Azi Paybarah, of the “you are a disgrace" fame reported the Lips in his recent column.

So maybe this will bring Tony Avella the attention he very much deserves. And being compared to Julia Roberts ain’t all weird.

Roberts apparently does not like to talk politics but she is a big environmentalist – as is Tony Avella.

THE PETULANT RICH KID AGAINST THE ETHICAL REFORMER (Tony Avella)

this blog is credited to New York Views - a sporadical.

The media is mostly not our ideal of what they should be -- investigative reporters searching for the truth -- idealistic muckrakers. For many, it is a job - they go with the flow; reprinting press releases with a tweak here and there. The media, after all, is owned by corporate America - (or is it China) In truth, if any of them did have the courage to speak out against His Emporership Mayor Bloomberg, they would forever be banned from City Hall. And they would have no story - albeit a slanted one. This is democracy, kids. Face it.

When an underdog like Queens Council Member Tony Avella - a progressive with great ideas and courage - tries to make a difference, he is mostly ignored. He is called an "outlier." Instead, Bill Thompson, the pick of the Democratic machine – is the favored Democratic candidate. …. But by the machine and politicians, that is ... not the people ... and certainly not on the blogs that I have read.

So it came as a breath of fresh air when Bernie Mooney from the Examiner writes a blog titled "Bloomberg is a Petulant Rich Kid" criticizing the mayor for being out of touch with New Yorkers. If this petulant rich kid was such a financial genius – then why did Wall Street have such a serious meltdown? Why is unemployment so high in New York City. The man has been mayor for eight years after all. Why didn’t he see it coming and do his “magic.” And why are the schools in such bad shape. Ask any teacher!!! Why – because Bloomberg had no answers – that’s why. And because he controls the media, you hear what he wants you to hear.

Mooney on Tony Avella: “There is a dark horse. That dark horse is Tony Avella, a city councilman from Queens who is no fan of mayor Mike. He has even taken his council colleagues to task for kowtowing to Bloomberg’s whims. He is most definitely against the out of control development under Bloomberg’s terms. Frankly, I never heard of him until I picked up a copy of WG, Williamsburg Greenpoint News +Arts.”

While I am impressed that Mr. Mooney gets it right in his piece, my problem with him is that as a political writer he has never heard of Tony Avella. Tony has been in the council for eight years and has been a leader against the abuse of eminent domain and over development. He knows how the real estate industry has run this city into the ground -- and he wants you to know also. I knew who Tony was and I do not make a living writing about politics. Tony is undoubtedly the most progressive, courageous and independent thinker in the Council - never afraid of speaking out against corrupt Christine Quinn. One of the few with real ethics, he refused to accept a large raise, which the council voted for themselves. But don’t take my word for it – check out Tony’s web site – please get informed. Learn about the issues that affect the average New Yorker.

But unfortunately, the average New Yorker – even those who actually vote – do not have a clue who their Council Member is – or who hold all of the citywide offices. This is how scoundrels get into office because at election time –some of these same New Yorkers get “religion” and feel obliged to do their “civic duty” to vote. They will go to the booth and pick the first candidate – or just vote the party in which they are registered. And they think they did a good thing. Ask them who they voted for - or if they know anything bout these candidates and they cannot tell you. This is very frightening. This is why Bloomberg and the City Council were able to overturn term limits.... it is because YOU voted for the very council members who made deals with Quinn - you rub my back and we will rub yours.

If you want a better New York with a mayor who actually listens to you … it is within your power to make that change. Bloomberg is a tyrant. He does not deserve another term in office.

Council Member Tony Avella would be a much needed progressive change for New York City. Let's give him (and us) a chance at real democracy!

Extortion of Small Business in New York

Mayoral candidate Tony Avella joined nearly 70 business owners and advocates at City Hall on Wednesday and called for a federal investigation. According to evidence and testimony, extortion and corruption are running rampant in New York City. After speaking with business owners Avella said, “What I heard was shocking. Merchants are being extorted to renew their leases or sell their businesses.” Support for this charge has come in the form of a survey conducted by the USA Latin Chamber of Commerce. The group surveyed 927 Latin-owned businesses in NYC and found that 31% of small business owners have had money extorted from them by landlords and agents as a condition of negotiating a lease renewal. “This is a dirty little secret in New York,” said Miguel Parabons, president of the group. Former business owner Ramon Nunez reported that his former landlord asked him to pay $50,000 under the table to renew his lease. He refused and was forced to close his meat market on 136th street in September, 2008. Quenia Abreu, president of the New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce said that business owners come to her office every day complaining about extortion.

According to the public leaders attending the event, Tony Avella is the first person to address this issue publicly on a large scale. He is encouraging all business owners to step forward and submit their statements to prepare a case for the U.S. Attorney’s office. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/18257/

Tony Avella and 9 Others Vote Against Sale's Tax Increase

The New York City Council voted Monday by a 37 to 10 vote to raise the City’s sale’s tax to 4.5 percent from 4 percent. Ten council members voted no: Tony Avella of Queens, Charles Barron of Brooklyn, Elizabeth Crowley of Queens, Eric N. Gioia of Queens, Vincent M. Ignizio of Staten Island, Melinda R. Katz of Queens, Kenneth Mitchell of Staten Island, James S. Oddo of Staten Island, Eric Ulrich of Queens, and James Vacca of the Bronx. Naysayers voted against the tax because it will be a hardship on middle-class New Yorkers, who are already fighting for their lives. Tony Avella continues to stand up for the average New Yorker against the overwhelming tide of Bloomberg’s elitist policies.

Council Supports DUMBO Against Residents' Wishes

The City Council voted to support the Dock Street Dumbo development, against the wishes of New Yorkers in the neighborhood. The vote was 40-9 with Council Members David Yassky, Bill de Blasio, Tony Avella, Vincent Gentile, Alan Gerson, Eric Gioia, Charles Barron, John Liu, Vincent Ignizio and Peter Vallone voting against. Yassky, who represents the district that includes DUMBO, repeated his opposition to the project because of the loss of views of and from the Brooklyn Bridge: “. . . not [just] those of people from their apartments, but the views of those millions of New Yorkers and others who walk or bike over the bridge. We have a handful of treasures in this city, the bridge experience is one of those, and we shouldn’t tamper with it in any way." Barron, who complained that the 80/20 ratio of affordable housing included in the project was “not affordable enough,” added, “I am also opposed to the project because I think development should be from the community up and not from the Planning Commission down. The community needs a stronger voice.” Gus Sheha of the DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance, which led the opposition to the project, said after the meeting that he and other opponents feel “disenchanted and disenfranchised by our elected officials” and “we believe the will of the people was disregarded.” He also said, “Community and civic mobilization, always promoted by elected officials as a way for communities to be heard, was completely ignored.” Tony Avella has led the fight in the City Council against overdevelopment by Bloomberg.
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=28779

Forest Hills Finds Out Why Tony Avella Is the Best

Councilman Tony Avella told residents at the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association meeting last week that the city needs a change in leadership in order to protect the interests of every-day New Yorkers. Michael Bloomberg declined the civic group’s invitation to attend. President Barbara Stuchinski introduced Bayside Councilman Avella as a “great guy” who for “many, many years has always been involved in the communities” and is” “not looking for personal esteem. He really is a person to be admired.” Avella, who declined to run for a third term on the City Council after term limits were overturned by the brute power of Bloomberg, against the wishes of New Yorkers who voted twice against term limits, said he started out as a “civic activist… helping to address local problems” in northern Queens. He was elected to the City Council in 2002. “We’ve lost control over our own city government,” Avella said. If he were elected mayor, one of Avella's top priorities would be to stop overdevelopment and to take neighborhoods back from Bloomberg's hand-picked developers. “It’s about time we start paying attention to the unique character and charm of every single neighborhood.” Instead of Bloomberg and city planning officials in league with the real estate industry controlling what happens, Avella wants residents to have a say over their neighborhood. “Nobody knows their block better than the people who live there,” he said.

Mayor Bloomberg. You Are a Disgrace. Vote for Tony Avella.

Please check out this blog site: Suzannah B. Troy artist. This blog site is dedicated to the real people who love New York City, the historic stunning NYC and communities being crushed under this tsunami of community crushing development...welcome to the "new" hideous New York built on "old" New York's infrastructure. The new hideous sky piercing luxury condos, mirrored hotels and mega dorms reflect a history destroyed and communities no longer.http://suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com/2009/06/tompkins-you-are-disgrace-mayor.html

Tony Avella Fights Overdevelopment in New York City

Councilmember Tony Avella has been instrumental in fighting over-development in his Queens constituency; but he says that he can bring the subject up in any neighborhood, and people will say "Yeah, you're right." Winess the latest over-development project Two Trees' Dock Street DUMBO project, so much in the news of late. The lament of overdevelopment is also heard loudly and clearly in north Brooklyn, where many long-time residents still express sadness over the 2005 rezoning which resulted in the very residents who worked so hard to bring the neighborhood back being pushed out of the community. Williamsburg is on many New Yorkers' lips as development gone wrong, thanks to Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn. As mayor, Tony Avella has said that he would add a paid urban planner to the community boards and revise the city charter to give the boards more power to accomplish their own plans for their own neighborhoods. In Williamsburg and Greenpoint, local residents and civic groups worked for months on a community-based plan that they feel was essentially ignored by City Hall. "Unscrupulous developers are getting away with anything and the real estate industry is making money hand over fist," says Avella. "And that shouldn't be the case. They shouldn't be doing theplanning. Neighborhoods should be doing the planning."

DUMBO Residents Sold Out

Despite the objection of local Councilmember David Yassky and DUMBO residents, and a paltry few honorable councilmembers including Tony Avella, Eric Gioia, John Liu, and Charles Barron, the New York City Council's Land Use Committee approved Two Trees' Dock Steet DUMBO development on June 5. The project will wipe out the view of Mahhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge from the DUMBO neighborhood. Councilmembers bowed to Speaker Quinn's support and Mayor Bloomberg's bidding of this most recent overdevelopment of New York City. Yassky called for an invesitation due to the fact that a "sweetheart" relationship between the City's School School Contruction Authority and Two Trees has been uncovered by emails, obtained through a FOIA request. This is just another bad deal for New Yorkers, approved by Bloomberg and Quinn. Everyday New Yorkers get the shaft, again, under Bloomberg's watch. Tony Avella's reaction to the vote was that people will walk by and say, "Who the heck allowed this building to get built?" After the vote, DUMBO's Neighborhood Alliance President Gus Sheha lamented, "It's clear that this committee today sold the Brooklyn Bridge."

David and Goliath

Councilman Tony Avella, candidate for mayor, has aggressively fought Bloomberg on his agenda of overdevelopment for the past eight years. Unfortunately, he has to fight almost everyone on the City Council as well, who cowtow to the mayor and walk lockstep with him, promoting his agenda. Bloomberg's overdevelopment is vehemently opposed by most New Yorkers; but what do they matter? Bloomberg is NOT the common man, nor does he care what the common man wants. He is remaking the City in his own wealthy image. Avella must convince voters that a relatively unknown councilman, without much financial support, can somehow defeat an immensely wealthy incumbent willing to spend unlimited amounts of his own money to secure a third term, a term that he does not deserve. The people of New York voted TWICE to secure term limits, but Bloomberg and his money and his influence managed to overturn the peoples' choice. One statistic alone should prove that Bloomberg does not have the City's best interests at heart: in the past eight years, the city has rezoned one-sixth of the total land in the five boroughs—more than the last six administrations combined—and the City Council has approved more than 80 total rezonings. Who is going to stop this dreadful train of events if not the people of New York? Please go to Councilmember Tony Avella's website and read his stand on the issues. http://thewgnews.com/2009/05/tony-who/ http://www.tonyavellaformayor.com/

DUMBO Approved by Dumb Councilmembers

Urged on by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York City Council members voted in favor of a controversial 18-story complex (DUMBO) planned for a site next to the Brooklyn Bridge, which will block views of the bridge, despite cries from citizens that this most recent foray into the overdevelopment of the City continues to rain havok on the New York that New Yorkers want to preserve. This vote will likely seal a victory for developer Two Trees father and son and their families, who have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Council members in recent years. Evidently, this is the money talking alluded to by Queens Councilman Tony Avella, one of only three councilmembers brave enough to vote against the project, in favor of the peoples' wishes. "I am thoroughly disgusted," said Mr. Avella, "and unfortunately, when it comes to the real estate industry and politics and city government, money talks. It's really shameful; I vote no." Councilman David Yassky, whose district is targeted for the project, also pushed colleagues to vote no. He was was disappointed by the 15-to-3 vote, but appeared resigned that it would likely be built. "I had a hunch that developers were making progress with a lot of the Council members, but I had hoped that our arguments in favor of the Brooklyn Bridge would resonate with them," he said.

Urged on by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York City Council members voted in favor of a controversial 18-story complex (DUMBO) planned for a site next to the Brooklyn Bridge, which will block views of the bridge, despite cries from citizens that this most recent foray into the overdevelopment of the City continues to rain havok on the New York that New Yorkers want to preserve. This vote will likely seal a victory for developer Two Trees father and son and their families, who have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Council members in recent years. Evidently, this is the money talking alluded to by Queens Councilman Tony Avella, one of only three councilmembers brave enough to vote against the project, in favor of the peoples' wishes. "I am thoroughly disgusted," said Mr. Avella, "and unfortunately, when it comes to the real estate industry and politics and city government, money talks. It's really shameful; I vote no." Councilman David Yassky, whose district is targeted for the project, also pushed colleagues to vote no. He was was disappointed by the 15-to-3 vote, but appeared resigned that it would likely be built. "I had a hunch that developers were making progress with a lot of the Council members, but I had hoped that our arguments in favor of the Brooklyn Bridge would resonate with them," he said.

Another controversial development project, an 18-story complex blocking views of the Brooklyn Bridge, has been urged on by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and New York city Council members were pressured to vote in favor of the project. This vote assured a victory for developer Two Trees when the full council votes next week. Two Trees father and son and their families have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Council members in recent years, which is presumably why they have been given the go-ahead by Quinn. The wishes of the people in the vicinity don't matter. "I am thoroughly disgusted," said Queens Councilman Tony Avella (D-Flushing), one of three to vote against the project. "And unfortunately, when it comes to the real estate industry and politics and city government, money talks. It's really shameful; I vote no." Councilman David Yassky also pushed colleagues to oppose the project to be built in his district, and was disappointed by the 15-3 vote, but appeared resigned. "I had a hunch that developers were making progress with a lot of the Council members, but I had hoped that our arguments in favor of the Brooklyn Bridge would resonate with them," he said.