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.

The Unpolitician

“The only way we can beat someone [in the New York City mayorial race] who is going to spend $100 million on this race is to have a really anti-political campaign. I’m the anti-politician. I’m the unpolitician.”

Councilmember Tony Avella, mayorial candidate, was quoted as saying this in an article entitled "The Outsider" by David Freedlander. Mr. Avella describes himself as the politician who refuses to be compromised by dirty politics. “Nothing is ever decided on the merits. It’s political and personal agendas. . . It’s money buys the influence and money rules this city in stead of the people.”

Mr. Avella refuses to play the game. Example: In 2003, in voting according to the wishes of his district, he voted against Bloomberg’s property tax increase, along with a handful of other council members, despite pressure from the Bloomberg administration.

"That was the first time I had come face to face with a dilemma about what do you do. A lot of people said 'If you vote against it, you are going to be punished.' And I thought about it, and I said, 'Why am I here? Am I here to do what I'm told or what I think is best for my constituents and the people of the city?' And I said, 'I'm going to do what I think is best, because in my opinioin, once you make the other choice, you are absolutely lost.'"

The punishment was fast and severe.

Click on the link to see the entire article.

Tony Avella calls for preserving neighborhoods

In a recent article entitled "The Outsider" by David Freedlander published in City Hall News, the reporter discusses Councilmember Tony Avella and his bid for mayor of New York City. Freedlander says that some of Avella's "most fervent battles have been with the Department of Buildings and with what he sees as the runaway development of the Bloomberg years." Mr. Avella is on a mission to bring the city back to the way it was and back to when the job of government was to serve the people. Avella is the voice of the small and the local, and "one of the most ardent preservationists in the city." On the subject, Freedlander quotes Mr. Avella as saying, "In many neighborhoods a lot of the charm is being lost. . . That's the cry I hear from most residents throughout the entire city, that the charm and character of the neighborhoods is just being destroyed . . . Surely, no one who has watched the city slowly morph these last several years into one gigantic food court broken up only by the occasional Duane Read would consider these changes progess."

Go to tonyavellaformayor.com to read Mr. Avella's stand on all the issues.

At the mayoral candidate forum held at the Three Parks Democratic Club in February, Councilmember Tony Avella was invited only if he would allow Comptroller William C. Thompson to speak first. The comptroller had a mildly receptive audience, but they found Councilmember Avella to be exciting and provocative, frequently interrupting him with applause. Mr. Avella had to keep quieting the audience in order to continue. Thompson all but ignored Avella and exited the forum as soon as he was finished. Avella criticized the comptroller for, among other things, failing to answer the question of whether or not he takes money from real-estate interests.

Mr. Avella is a candidate of the people. He said at the forum that we need to take back City Hall, and that we need a campaign that will send a message throughout the entire country that it’s not about money, it’s about people! He got a standing ovation when the forum ended, and he had a hard time getting out the door.

The attendees were inspired and signed up to be volunteers for the Avella campaign.

New Yorkers must find out everything they can about this man, who would bring to our fair city a mayor who is honest and dedicated to the interests of the people, rather than the special interests.

Go to tonyavellaformayor.com.

TONY AVELLA: A PROFILE IN COURAGE

Council Member Tony Avella has emerged as a true leader in the battle for democracy in the recent term limits vote fiasco, which occurred last Thursday. Tony voted NO for the bill to extend term limits - and had taken that position from the beginning. From Newsday - Janison: Bloomberg's term-limit win far from decisive reports on 10/24/08:

"In hoarse and angry tones, Tony Avella (D-Queens) struck the core of the issue when he explained his "no" vote. "If those who support this bill think it is a really good-government thing, that we have three terms instead of two, why did they wait 'til now? They waited 'til now so it was too late to do a referendum, so it could only be done legislatively."

Then he warned others in the council: "You're not conning anybody. The public of this city knows the fix was in from the beginning. And you know something? When the time comes, hopefully - and I apologize to my colleagues - but you should all be voted out of office."

How often do you hear that kind of statement in City Hall?

Answer: Never - until now.

We are planning a fund raiser for Tony Avella on Tuesday, December 2nd in Manhattan. More details to follow. Let's support this courageous, intelligent and ethical maverick. A true man of the people. Please contact us if you want more information and would like to be on our mailing list. Otherwise, visit us again in a week or so for more information.

Please visit Tony's web site at www.tonyavellaformayor.com

In the meantime: please take part in our campaign

WILL YOU PAY $10 FOR DEMOCRACY?

Help bring back integrity to NYC politics

Tony Avella has done so much for the integrity of the democratic process in NYC. He has spoken out on many occasions - most recently against the extension of term limits, which was a blow to democracy. Please participate in our special campaign and send $10 to Tony Avella for Mayor and mark it "Democracy Campaign." That's all it takes. You do not have to live in New York City to participate.

The Campaign Finance Reporting Rules of NYC require that everyone who donates to a political campaign fill in a special form, which they will send in with their donations to the candidate. Click here for the printable form.

Tony Avella is the underdog in the run for mayor, but we can help change that if we all come together and support him. Because he is against over development, he does not get donations from the real estate industry. Checks are preferred because the campaign will get the full $10. If you want to donate by credit card, please click here. Checks/money orders should be made out to Tony Avella2009 and mailed along with the campaign form noted above to:

• Tony Avella 2009
• PO Box 570052
• Whitestone, NY 11357

TONY AVELLA - BEST CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

We have only about two months left before we elect a new president. I hope the fates are looking favorably at us. Our NYC mayoral election will be next November 2009 - but it is not too early to begin thinking about it. New York City needs a mayor who is both smart and compassionate - something we have not had in a very long time.

New Yorkers for Tony Avella support Council Member Tony Avella for Mayor because he is a breath of fresh air. He is not beholden to special interests and he is the only Council Member with a backbone. He remembers what democracy is all about - and it is not sucking up to the Speaker and forgetting who put you in office in the first place. Under Speaker Quinn, Council Members do what they are told - and most recently it is to try like hell to overturn term limits - something New Yorkers twice voted for on ballot initiatives.

We like Tony because he recognizes that animal issues are important to many people. He has compassion - something our present mayor lacks both for people and animals.

Animal issues are very important to New Yorkers. Read what Tony has to say about animal welfare. Tony is the leading advocate for animal issues in City government and has authored several bills. In December 2007, he sponsored Intro 658, which would ban the inhumane carriage horse industry in NYC. He did not come to this decision lightly having already introduced a bill in January 2006 to keep the horses in the park. But he came to realize that such a bill not only did not have the support of New Yorkers, but that something more needed to be done. Read more about the carriage horse issue at the web site of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages. He also sponsored the Pets in Housing bill, which would clarify the three-month law that allows people in apartments with no pet clauses to keep their pets. The real estate industry is preventing this bill from going anywhere.

We also like Tony because he has taken a stand against over development in our communities. Many of us are frustrated with the amount of construction going on in the neighborhoods in which we both live and work -- buildings going up with apartments that the average New Yorker cannot afford; new commercial developments that push out mom and pop businesses - turning parts of NYC into lack luster malls. Read what Tony says about over development on his web site www.tonyavellaformayor.com Because of his stance against big developers, he is not getting the support of the real estate community, which controls other politicians.

The Mayoral race will pick up in 2009 after our Presidential election. At that time, we expect several other candidates to announce their candidacy. Please find out all you can about them - including who has given them the most donations -- who supports their candidacy - what lobbyists you can expect to have entre into City Hall. Unless our present Mayor and City Council are successful in turning over the will of the people and defeating term limits - we will have an interesting race.

And please - Do two things:

Visit Tony's web site and sign the petition to support term limits.

And please donate to the Tony Avella for Mayor Campaign. Let's give City government back to the people. No more poltics as usual.