Peter Vallone, Jr.
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- For the former New York City Council Speaker, see Peter Vallone, Sr..
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Peter F. Vallone, Jr. represents Astoria, Queens in the New York City Council as a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected to the Council in 2001, replacing his father Peter F. Vallone, Sr..
Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee. As Chair, he has fought to stop cuts to the NYPD, demanded more officers be assigned to local precincts, and rallied to stop the closing of firehouses. He introduced legislation to keep illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of domestic violence offenders, to abolish the statute of limitations on child abuse offenders and rapists, and to double the penalties for graffiti. Vallone led the fight to get New York City the money it deserves from the state and federal governments so that New Yorkers will continue to be protected and can rebuild.
As an Assistant District Attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney's office for over six years, Vallone successfully prosecuted various street crime matters and compiled an impressive trial record of 40 top count convictions against 1 acquittal. As a highly respected expert in criminal law matters, he appears regularly on Court TV. As the father of two girls attending public schools, he knows how important it is that every child has a safe learning environment. That is why he introduced a bill that would put security cameras in all New York City public schools.
As Pro Bono Counsel to C.H.O.K.E. (Coalition Helping Organize a Kleaner Environment), Vallone led the fight against the proliferation of power plants and represented C.H.O.K.E. and Astoria residents in Queens County Supreme Court, winning a major victory against the New York Power Authority.
An accomplished athlete, Vallone was invited to play against the Chinese National Ping-Pong team on ABC's Wide World of Sports, and was Co-Captain of the Astoria Civic City Champion Football and Softball teams. He is also a professional musician and an avid scuba diver. Vallone was born and raised in Astoria, Queens. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University in 1983 and from Fordham University School of Law in l986. He has two daughters, Catherine, 10, and Caroline, 8.
In February, 2003, he introduced a bill proposing New York City secession.
The City University of New York's Vallone Scholarship, which pays gifted students half the cost of attendance, is named after his father.
Peter F. Vallone Jr. battled "street crime" aka graffiti aggressively throughout his political career. He even had some large graffiti written about him. It read "f#$! vallone" (Link 1). He latched on to graffiti because he feels it is a quality of life issue that affects larger crime levels throughout the city. (see link 2). He made graffiti laws tougher. He also made it easier for graffiti writers who get caught painting illegally to go to prison as opposed to previously lighter penalties.
| Preceded by Peter F. Vallone, Sr. |
New York City Council, 22nd District 2002 – present |
Incumbent |
| Members of New York City Council
Speaker: Christine C. Quinn |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Manhattan - |
9: Dickens (D) |
17: Arroyo (D) |
26: Gioia (D) |
35: James (WF) |
44: Felder (D) |