Mayor

1. What is the most important issue in the city you would address if elected?

New York is a city of neighborhoods. Under Bloomberg, however, our neighborhoods have taken a back seat to the interests of Wall Street and real-estate developers. Tony Avella will preserve the charm and character of our communities and stop the overdevelopment that has hurt our quality of life, overcrowded our schools, increased traffic, and overburdened our infrastructure. Tony will strip the real-estate industry of its political influence. He will create new affordable housing while maintaining existing units. Tony will reform the City's planning process to give every citizen on every block a real say in what happens in their neighborhood, defend tenants from unscrupulous landlords, and expand access to waterfronts, parks, and open spaces.

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

Tony will regulate commercial real estate to protect small businesses from rent hikes. He will involve principals, teachers and parents in reforming the Department of Education, end the practice of "teaching to the test," and hire an educator to be the next Chancellor. Tony will enhance senior-citizen, youth and veterans services, as well as animal welfare. He will make 7-day-a-week library service a reality, work toward reinstating free tuition at CUNY, and implement innovative transportation ideas such as light rail to keep subway and bus fares low.

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

Tony Avella is the only Mayoral candidate who has consistently stood up for our neighborhoods, schools, and union jobs. Tony's principles and ethics are not for sale. He has a proven record as a reformer and a champion of middle- and working-class families. In his eight years in the City Council, he fought the self-interested politicians and helped lead the charge against Bloomberg's effort to overturn term limits. The Avella Administration will give every New Yorker a real say in City government and ensure that the people's voice is heard.

(Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

Participating in the NYC Campaign Finance Program.

View Candidate Statement Disclaimer