1. What is the most important issue in Council District 50 you would address if elected?

Maintaining and expanding the fight against out of character development continues to be the most important issue facing our community by far. At my urging, the Bloomberg Administration created the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force. Its recommendations have led to common sense zoning text changes leading to more sensible development in our residential districts, but there is much work to do in addressing commercial areas, manufacturing districts, the shortcomings of the Department of Buildings, the need to license residential home builders and so much more. We are playing a crucial game of "catch up" and we need to be aggressive and vigilant in saving what is left of what is good about our community.

2. What other important issues would you address if elected?

To the credit of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and the men and women of the NYPD, major crime continues to drop. However, there has been a marked increase in quality of life offenses such as graffiti and other vandalism. I will continue to advocate stringent anti-graffiti legislation, including my legislation that holds parents financially accountable for the destruction done by their children; will maintain my push for a juvenile curfew, continue to fund technology such as cameras at schools and public places. All of these efforts are necessary as we fight to continue making our community a more pleasant place to live.

Clearly, as a result of overdevelopment, transportation is a serious issue that I will continue to address. There is no silver bullet and we must maximize the capacity of the existing infrastructure. I will continue to work with DOT to locate and mitigate intersections that create the most problems for motorists. I will also continue to work with the NYPD to target dangerous and aggressive drivers.

3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?

The fact that I have lived and breathed this job for 14 years. The fact that it, for all intents and purposes, is my life. The fact that I am honest, tenacious, independent and candid. The fact that doing what I believe is right is more important than the political fallout or political expediency. The fact that I am guided by one simple principal: do what is in the best interests of my district.

(Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

Participating in the Campaign Finance Program.

View Candidate Statement Disclaimer

PARTY KEY
C = Conservative D = Democratic EP = Education Party G = Green I = Independence L = Liberal	LBT = Libertarian R = Republican REB = Rebuild Party REF = Reform Party RNY = Reform Pary of N.Y. Party RTD = Rent is Too Damn High Party	SCS = Smaller Class Size Party SW = Socialist Workers Party VOP = Voice of the People WF = Working Families WVP = War Veterans Party