Hey Grant,Peter Vallone Jr. here. Let me first give you credit for having the guts to place your name on the recent post about me, unlike those annoying bloggers who love to take cheap shots but are too chicken to place their names. That’s where the credit ends, however, because the rest of what you mention is “crap”.
You appear to blame me (and my family) for LaGuardia Airport, Rikers Island and Astoria’s power plants. Somehow you forgot to blame me for the recent cold weather as I have about the same amount of control over the weather as I do over the other entities. They are State controlled and local officials have virtually no say on their placement or existence (and I probably should point out that almost all existed well before any of us were born). That being said, no one has fought harder against the power plants in Astoria than the Vallones (Google it). It was my father that led the first protest for Con Edison to move from coal to natural gas and I helped start the law suit to help close the filthiest power plant, New York Power Charles Poletti Plant in 2010. Regarding the new generating station you mention, you are probably referring to the relatively new Astoria Energy Plant, which was again rammed into our neighborhood over our objections by the Pataki Administration. You might recall that I called the process “corrupt” but again, your anger should be directed against the State.
I share your concerns about the over-development of Astoria and again you somehow missed the fact that I am the ONLY elected official that is working hard to get City Planning to downzone many areas of Astoria. This is a process I began almost two years ago, and in fact spent two hours at City Planning last week working to move it forward. Again, I can only request that this rezoning be studied by City Planning but do not have the power to require it. Since I am the only elected official to ever attempt this, it is clear that once again your anger is misdirected.
Grant, I have no problem with your disagreeing with me on many controversial issues that I take, whether it be the toughest graffiti laws in the nation, ban on trans fats, less homework for kids, ban on new pit bulls, or secession from New York State, or even not liking me or my family, but a modicum of effort to get your facts straight would be appreciated. I am used to being attacked on a daily basis but have no problem defending positions I have actually taken and things that I am actually responsible for. I have spent virtually every day of my life in Astoria and could not disagree more with you about your assessment of our beautiful neighborhood as ”becoming a ghetto”. If you really feel that way, you should move into some non-ghetto area and make room for one of the many who are clamoring to live here.
Peter Vallone
43 comments:
So Pete is against anonymous blogging, eh? Maybe he's also against anonymous voting, too.
I am the ONLY elected official that is working hard to get City Planning to downzone many areas of Astoria. This is a process I began almost two years ago, and in fact spent two hours at City Planning last week working to move it forward. Again, I can only request that this rezoning be studied by City Planning but do not have the power to require it.
Mr. Vallone - with Gov. Spitzer in charge of NYS and Democratic party marching in lockstep with him, perhaps you can inform him of your downsizing efforts to arm twist those Dems on the City Council to go along with your proposals.
As a legal citizen of Queens, I know that the majority of areas are Democrat run and expect that issues such as downsizing, illegal immigrants stealing our jobs, dormification of our neighborhoods and building code enforcement are key issues that are dear to most homeowning citizens, but are not being addressed at all, but rather are all but ignored and swept under the rug. Developers are running roughshod over our neighborhoods that are already become unrecognizable and unsafe because of it.
Mr Vallone, it' time to step up to the plate, take a stance on downsizing and seize the leadership role to sway the City council to limit development and uphold Federal laws on illegal immigration issues and to bring us reassurances of a quality of life that include the rule of law.
Thank you. A blogger at Queens Crap who cares about Queens.
"... the toughest graffiti laws in the nation, ban on trans fats, less homework for kids, ban on new pit bulls, or secession from New York State ..."
An immigrant riot every Halloween in the major shopping district? Day laborers loitering and leering on main streets? Graffiti covered cheaply built human barracks that would do North Korea proud?
A slum is a community with a power grid shot to hell, overcrowded schools, closed hospitals and firehouses, and a sharply escalating population of transients living in illegally converted basements in buildings run by absentee landlords.
And all you can think of is @#$$%*# homework and transfats.
Hey Vallone, where we you and your sidekick Michael G. the first few DAYS when the power grid went out and Con Ed could find no one the community to coordinate an emergency response?
In your (ahem) air conditioned house?
And why have you not instituted community conservation and made some efforts to put a cap on development which unnecessarily puts a strain on the grid?
Everyone in the community has noticed a permanent instability to the grid since that summer and fully expect it to fall apart again.
unlike those annoying bloggers who love to take cheap shots but are too chicken to place their names.
Yes, acting like a bunch of pols horse trading with each other and developers in those smoke filled rooms in the old clubhouse.
Who does the public think they are?
"I have spent virtually every day of my life in Astoria"
Really? This says you lived in Hollis Hills for most of the 1990s and moved back to Astoria only to assume daddy's seat:
When a House Is Not a Home
Hey guys, I guess we should just ignore this.
P.S. Isn't it sad that the Village Voice gave better coverage of our local races than our own weeklies did?
I have spent virtually every day of my life in Astoria and could not disagree more with you about your assessment of our beautiful neighborhood as ”becoming a ghetto”.
With all due respect sir, this is what your constituents are saying:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22318392@N04/sets/72157603583520664/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22318392@N04/sets/72157603583520664/show/
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/assorted-astorialic-crap.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/470-days-of-astoria-crap-in-mere.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/crap-in-astoria-extends-to-street-trees.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/astoria-castle-on-curbed.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/bedbug-seminars-planned.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/pete-on-police.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/crappiest-el-stations-in-queens.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/bedbug-meeting-date-set.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/dutch-kills-development-opposition.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/crap-above-in-astoria.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/guess-landmark.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/astoria-pool-looks-very-uncool.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/to-sit-or-not-to-sit.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/run-down-dog-run-is-real-dog.html
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/chappetto-square.html
Also, some people think your gratuitous support for someone of the ilk of a Dennis Gallagher was a mistake:
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/pinky-clear-for-now-re-indictment-looms.html
If you really feel that way [that the community is becoming a ghetto], you should move into some non-ghetto area and make room for one of the many who are clamoring to live here.
#######
Or perhaps I should expect the people that I vote for, and pay taxes for their salary, should acknowledge the problem and at least make some effort to clean it up.
Why should I move if someone is not doing their job? Its more fun to stay and demand what I am entitled to.
Do you have a problem with that, sir?
"I am used to being attacked on a daily basis"
By whom? The Queens Gazette? I think not.
Mr. Vallone - its not just that new "Energy Plant" came to the neighborhood, its also that the way it suddenly appeared and only spews its smoke on cloudy gives a clear indication that there is premeditation and scheming in both its creation and its operation.
Either - you aren't aware of these issues, which is disturbing and reasserts some of Mr. Brandies' concerns. OR You know about the situation and approve of it, which shows how much you care about the residents of Astoria and are willing to attempt to downplay how this invasion of a power plant affects their daily lives.
I am looking forward to one of you running in the next election since the seat is open in 2009. Can't wait for all these amazing changes to take place! The ballot sure will be chock full!
RE: Only spews smoke on cloudy days.
A large amount of exahust from most power plants is water vapor - aka steam
On dry days, it does not condense - on wet/cloudy days, the water vapor condenses out...
What? you think they hold the smoke for cloudy days?
I am looking forward to one of you running in the next election since the seat is open in 2009. Can't wait for all these amazing changes to take place! The ballot sure will be chock full!
The clubhouse has spent many years creating the current political swamp and it will not drain soon:
1. the strong machine politics of NYS makes it virtually impossible for someone from the public to run successfully for office (unless you have tons of money). The laws governing this process are all but opaque, one of the great scandals of modern politics (hint - if you guys in office really care about the public you would do something about it)
2. campaign finance. Will the special intere$t lobby will really flock to someone who represents the interests of John Q? Sure. (hint - if you guys in office really care about the public you would do something about it)
3. the newspapers. Considering most are underfinanced, there is no room for real reporting: news is little more than press releases from politicians. Those expensive holiday ads might (just might) have some impact on their editorial pages. (hint - if you guys in office really care about the public you would do something about it)
No, for the foreseeable future, you will have a standoff.
The machine is facing a public that is increasingly apathetic (to their platforms), savvy to their resume building (at the public's expense), and angry (at the direction their communities are taking).
The older generation that automatically deferred to authority and believed everything fed to them is dying off. The voter base today is better educated and a great deal more cynical.
The apparent indifference by the elected officials to addressing real issues and seemingly strong desire to sweep them under the rug will eventually spell the end of clubhouse politics.
Abandoning their middle class base is a fatal mistake.
Their faith in replacing them with the new immigrants will prove to be a mirage.
It takes time for a credibility gap to grow to complete the disconnect. But it is clear that there is now widespread public alienation with ‘the business as usual insider politics.’ None existed a decade ago.
This poisoned political process will continue to fester, grow, and eventually become organized within the very few opportunities that the public has to express their true unfettered opinions:
Public Blogs as Queens Crap.
Community board 1, the community board from hell.
Funny how the foodie and frivolous www.astorians.com (where every discouraging word brings out the moderators who darkly talk about censorship) has remained off line ever since Vallone fell into Crappy's target a few days ago.
Funny.
(look on the good side - the real estate ads are not viewed by the public)
Yes, I am sure that Astorians completely shut itself down because Queens Crap said some mean things. C'mon!!
"RE: Only spews smoke on cloudy days.
A large amount of exahust from most power plants is water vapor - aka steam
On dry days, it does not condense - on wet/cloudy days, the water vapor condenses out...
What? you think they hold the smoke for cloudy days?"
-Thank you....at least someone has a brain around here.
ok, we have resolved two problems.
234,367 to go!!
Well at least they have sense to complain about the smoke (or steam) that they CAN see.
You guys are against congestion pricing and give all sorts of silly reasons to fight it.
How about the pollution that you CAN'T see, from both the power plants and cars? We live in asthma alley.
I live near the plants. Every house around those plants are bleached by the pollution. Just think of our lungs.
Why don't you complain? They got rid of power plants in Mahnattan - at the same time they sprung up out here.
If the politicians did their jobs why are all these plants here in the first place?
You cannot tell me that at SOME LEVEL SOMEONE we elect is responsible for this. Who?
Looks like the Astorians advice to "write a letter" to your local elected official was met with a defensive reply.
Next suggestion?
Talk about unprofessional, but then what do you expect. Get out and VOTE, people.
whatdayamean I ain't concerned about the environment. Spray can paint contains toxins in it. So by going after the notorious graffiti thugs who desecrate buildings with their tags I am making the air much much cleaner for everybody to breathe!
Vallone said:
"I am the ONLY elected official....downzone many areas of Astoria"
What a dumb statement. First, just look around the neighborhood, he says he's been working hard for two years, what does this say about how effective he is?
Two years is a very long time, look at how fast they upzoned Jamaica.
Second, he's the ONLY city council member from Astoria, who on earth else is supposed to do it?
Last time I checked, Tony Avella represented Bayside.
After Don Pietro "daddy" Vallone
allowed Astoria to get screwed up the way it is
over all these years,
his own son Paul had to move out
to the more leafy environs of northeast Queens.
Or could it have been to run for Avella's seat
and push their damn dynasty up our noses.
Fa-get-about- it !
We're wise to la famiglia's ways out here.
You're not going to get away turning
our neighborhood into a slum !
Skeefvioso clubhouse rat!
Uhm, is this note verified to have come from vallone?
Dear Mr. Vallone,
I hope that you read this comment here and that you may respond to it.
I was appalled at the way you went trumpeting accused rapist Dennis Gallagher's innocence. I understand you are probably friends with the guy. I also agree that he is innocent until proven guilty. I also understand the prosecutor may have made mistakes, and I respect your right as a former prosecutor, to discuss this.
But I, and many others were deeply offended at your statement that "he did not commit the crime of rape...Justice is now done."
How dare you pretend to know what went on in Mr. Gallagher's office? Were you there in the room to witness the sex, and is that how you know it was consensual? Do you assume all rape victims are lying, or just this one?
Who needs a judge and jury, right? Peter Vallone, Jr. can apparently decide what the truth is, even though he wasn't there.
Furthermore, I remind you that the judge stated that the victims testimony alone would have been sufficient to indict your colleague. Therefore, just as Mr. Gallagher has his right to due process, the victim in the case also has a right to tell her side of the story, without being declared a liar by someone like you, who is supposed to be a leader in the community.
I think you owe the alleged victim, as well as your constituents an apology.
By the way, I hear Mr. Gallagher may well be re-indicted. So perhaps justice has not been served yet. Don't you agree?
Sophia
Astoria.
I hope you will have the decency to apologize to the victim as well as us, your constituents, for your mistake.
Nice job Sophia!
Gee, I wonder if someone has the nerve to post this on astorians.com.
Maybe the community board should open a restaurant so they start to notice local politics over there.
I'm sorry, Mr. Vallone, but it's disgusting what Astoria has become. I was a 3rd generation Astorian and lived there for 30 years. My mother still lives there, and I get a knot in my stomach when I go back to visit her. Astoria is filthy, crowded, and over-developed.
Maybe your pretty little section of Astoria isn't a ghetto, but take a look at Astoria from Astoria Blvd to 39th Ave.; from the East River to Northern Blvd. It's a disgusting pit of filth. When my ancestors came here from Italy, just like yours did, they would have been ashamed to live in the squalor that these "new immigrants" get away with.
When I made the decision to move out of Astoria, it was one of best decisions I ever made. I would never move back there, nor could I afford the over-inflated prices for rent in Astoria.
could not disagree more with you about your assessment of our beautiful neighborhood as ”becoming a ghetto”. If you really feel that way, you should move into some non-ghetto area and make room for one of the many who are clamoring to live here.
Mr. Vallone - The point is there are already too many folks here, many of which are ilegal and are turning the area into a 3rd world ghetto. Do your job to limit new development and provide service to the legal residents of the US. Rezone downwards, to give the good folks whom have lived all their lives here some breathing room in the remaining single & 2 family home area. Fight the dangerious practice dormification of those who buy these same home for this purpose. We need leadship Mr. Vallone, not someone who panders to lazy parents whom don't help their children with homework. Please focus the little energy you expend for us on fighting crime issues and insuring we will have electricity for our homes this year. Be daring, demand support on these issues by your fellow politicos - be independent of party line. You seem to be a nice guy, show that you can be feared and deliver for Astoria. Don't promise - do what you say.
Rezone downwards, to give the good folks whom have lived all their lives here some breathing room in the remaining single & 2 family home area.
Oh no, and push the development on the rest of us? What is good for Ditmars is good for 30th Ave and Broadway. Downzone ALL of Astoria!
We don't want to become another Dutch Kills.
While you are at it, how about giving us back the waterfront? Dont' block us off from the East River with more congestion and development.
You are spending $6 million on a bike path for rich people, how about a few dollars for better services for those of us that have supported you and your family for decades?
You can save a lot of money if you leave it empty and give us a waterfront park like they have in Manhattan.
One of the reasons our community looks like a slum is the garbage pickup.
We must be the only area that has a Monday pickup. With all those three day weekends, the trash usually sits for an entire week.
We have rats now on our block. I lived 65 years in this community and never saw rats until two years ago. Now one ran right by my feet when I am walking home at night last month.
Please change trash pickup and start an anti-litter campaign. Give out tickets. Many of my neighbors just never clean up in front of their buildings and they never seem to stay around here long enough to learn.
Mr Vallone. How about doing something about all those clubs on Broadway? They keep us up all night and there are rumors that cops from the 114 moonlight in them so nothing ever happens to clean them up.
I call 311 and 911 and nothing seems to change.
Don't get me started about them. Not only are they noisy, but the smoke from those hookas makes my home stink of smoke.
Please enforce the law.
I do not understand why you cater to those people.
What is happening to our community?
Does anyone else hear the constant rumbling of the smokestack on 37th street behind Steinway factory?!!!!!!
All of our windows are closed, yet we still hear a constant rumble all day and all night. How loud will it be in the summer when all the windows are open???
You know, Folks, you really are a group of childish twits. Compared to his Dad, Pete Jr. has dedicated himself to the Community. Okay, okay, except for the homework crap, and the breed-specific crap. (You do know Pete, that now it may be pit bulls, but you own a Bichon and someday it may also be Bichons that someone wants to ban. Breed-specific laws simply suck. If YOUR kid is getting too much homework, perhaps it's time to reach out and get a tutor before you get to see failing grades.)
All the crap about what he hasn't done, by virtue of the fact that those things are not in his province, are absurd. He is NOT responsible for all that is wrong with Astoria. YOU ARE. You came into a beautiful neighborhood waving your BIG BUCKS and expecting things to be done for you, and now all you do is whine and bitch.
Get off your asses and volunteer somewhere in Astoria. Do something to make it better for all, or just get the hell out. You only came here because the rent was reasonable, but your presence has caused rents to skyrocket to the point that it is no longer affordable for the decent people who lived here before you came. You don't plan on staying, you know that. The truth be told, you are interlopers; transients. Here for the time being, and gone tomorrow.
All your bitching and whining is disgusting.
Instead of working with the system you try to interfere in it's working for you.
Your lack of respect is astonishing. Would you talk to your parents the way you talked to an elected official of the City of New York?
SHAME ON YOU.
Your lack of respect is astonishing. Would you talk to your parents the way you talked to an elected official of the City of New York?
The old school Dem boiler room crowned Vallone as their candidate of choice. We were left with no one to vote for. Our Pols seem to think we work for them - well buddy, he works for us - don't you ever forget it.
Daddy Vallone bulldozed everyone and Astoria, now Jr. has to face constituents whom won't allow that and hold him accountable. We won't stand meekly around because of the premium placed on the Vallone dynasty aura effect. We are not fooled by it - look at the Kennedy Dynasty - rests on it past - the past is ugly.
The Vallone legacy is about Sr. getting richer by the minute in the private sector, Jr. is building on being an office holder and connected power.
Wake up meek folks, demand action and services, don't settle for less than less on issuses such as too much home work for kids and dog breeds - they are a distraction from the real issues that affect you. Your neighberhood being torn down around you whle developers profit short term and the ongoing legalization of wetbacks siphoning off your services, quality of life and tax dollars are issues that you must not ignore.
Speaking as an Astorian, the Vallones are niether good nor bad compaired to the rest of the pols.
The one thing I find contemptable, is the sensorship of www.astorians.com.
I dare you to restore that link you servered.
'Preservationists' as they are, are already talking to the Vallones on downzoning.
They hope to get a big contract. Maybe another vacation in exotic locals for their hard work$.
Wait until the horror-story buildings open up this spring and summer. Run for your life!
I am third-generation, nearly 50 years in this niegborhood and have never seen the like.
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