Friday, February 27, 2009

Avella vs. the City Hall tweeders

From City Hall:

“Nothing is ever decided on the merits. It’s political and personal agendas. It’s ‘where is my next donation coming from.’ It’s money buys the influence and money rules this city instead of the people,” he said, adding, “I hate politics. I hate it. My definition of politics is you have to deal with people that in any other walk of life you’d cross the street just to get away from them. Politics is a disgusting business. I hate it with a passion.”

Some of his most fervent battles have been with the Department of Buildings and with what he sees as the runaway development of the Bloomberg years. He is on a self-styled mission to save the fallen city from its own worst instincts, to bring the city back to the way it was, back when the job of government was to serve the people, not keep the city globally competitive. His is the voice of the small and of the local, of the city that existed before the current crop of glittering glass condos began to sprout like mushrooms. He is one of the most ardent preservationists in the city, putting him in line with a group made up more often than not of ladies who lunch from Manhattan.

Avella is not one who sees the city as growing better with time.

“For one thing, it’s much more crowded. Everything is much more expensive. In many neighborhoods a lot of the charm is being lost,” he said. “Queens has suffered greatly. 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 and it’s all becoming one concrete village, and we are all going to be the same.”

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think Tony Avella is going to do a lot better than people think.

Even if he doesn't have the money, the one thing he's got really going for him is his very big mouth. He's going to try and shame Bloomie with his policies. It remains to be seen if it will work.

Anonymous said...

He's our ONLY choice for mayor.

Anonymous said...

He's our ONLY choice for mayor.

AMEN!

Anonymous said...

Italian Girl,

You and I have variously differed and agreed on a variety of issues. You have always seemed like a bright lady who wishes things to be better. And contributes to the improvement through teaching and your contact with people.

Well, your instincts are smack on target regarding Tony Avella.

I've been fortunate enough to have come to know this man ever since he started helping this community once Gallagher started acting like a walking toilet.

Tony is utterly "what you see is what you get".

I'm certain without ever asking him that I probably will not agree with each proposal he makes.

But, this I guarantee: If Tony makes a proposal, it will be to improve or correct the status quo.

I would be stunned if Tony were to get involved in something for personal gain (he has refused the pay increase the Council greedily voted itself - something that you have to believe just delighted his wife).

If Tony makes a proposal, it will be because he honestly believes it will be an improvement to the status quo.

Will he make mistakes? Count on it!

Will he duck and spin the mistake? Not on a bet!

Will you or I agree on every issue Tony handles? Cannot be!

Is he the NYC Messiah? Never! The real Messiah already left, and, when He returns, He won't be handling taxes and spending.

We always want the perfect candidate and then throw tantrums when we find out once again that we voted for another flawed human.

We are left having to use common sense and trust OUR OWN judgment as we evaluate candidates. Here are some of MY OWN criteria: Tony lives in an ordinary Queens neighborhood. He shovels his own snow and has to wait for Sanitation to clear the streets and salt the ice. He put out his own garbage (likely after his wife reminds(?) him). He waits while the restaurant waiter diligently ignores him.

To address the problems that we would bring to him, he would not require some very wealthy research firm to "study" what it is about that issue that bothers "little people" like us.

Tony is real. I think he would be a great mayor. And, it's high time there is someone like him to consider. New Yorkers would be making a profound mistake by choosing someone else.

By the way, I do not work for Tony, the city, state, etc. I'm another victim of the Commissar and his depraved indifference to managing this city.

I do support Tony as an unpaid volunteer, and have no experience - professional or amateur - in political campaigning except a few hours for the other great New Yorker, Tony Nunziato. It must be something about the name Tony.

Anonymous said...

The other night I tried to stay up to watch the state of the union address.

After seeking all the pomp and handshaking and kissing by the pols my interest waned. I fell asleep.

You might have ceremony with the Queen in England, but for some reason, as stupid as some of the ritual is, it seems neater, more dignified.

I love when in Parliament the back benchers razz the speaker. An over the top two year quest for our nation's presidency is but a few weeks in that country.

That is democracy! Not the 'honorable this' and 'honroable that' like in the US. Two guys to share one sentence on the president's entrance in the State of the Union?

Give me a break.

It just makes you gag.

In City Hall, Albany, or Washington, you get the same impression.

They look like a bunch of used car salesmen attending a Raccoon Lodge function.

We have some big problems in government. We need to change the tone to get it more in line with the traditional character of our republic.

Tony is a big step in the right direction.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Taxpayer!

Hell Gate Kid:

I thought the State of the Union was incredible! Two guys? - nothing wrong with that. I thought it was such an exciting moment when Obama entered the room. And his speech - so inspirational!
I think the next couple of years will be rough(for this country) and things will improve after that.

Anonymous said...

There are only 1 or 2 elected city officials (especially in the City Council) who are worth their salt. Tony Avella, in my opinion is one of them. The problem he has is that he is Marginalized by the other city council members & has never really overcome this problem. He's like Norman Seigel in many ways. Looks out for the little guy, but their opposition have the money & power to just ignore what they try to do. It's very discouraging, to say the least.

Anonymous said...

Well the people helped Obama get the money why can't we the people pull together and help Tony Avella get the money he needs to bring change to what once was a great city. We need leaders that will stand up for the people over developers. We need leaders that understand that you can't put 50,000 people in an area only made for 10,000.

Anonymous said...

www.tonyavellaformayor.com

You'll find online contribution forms there.

Anonymous said...

for the record, that wasn't the state of the union. that was a presidential address to a joint session of congress.

Anonymous said...

Are you people nuts? Tony Avella is a transparent, rude, arrogant creepy, self-promoting jerk who has been one of the top abusers of public office for his own personal gain. Take a reality pill. He will never ever ever ever ever be elected Mayor or anything else for that matter. Wake up.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous:
"Are you people nuts? Tony Avella is a transparent, rude, arrogant creepy, self-promoting jerk who has been one of the top abusers of public office for his own personal gain. Take a reality pill. He will never ever ever ever ever be elected Mayor or anything else for that matter. Wake up."

And the evidence is?

faster340 said...

"And the evidence is?"

Exactly! That moronic anonymous poster is probably Tony's opposition and doesn't have a shred of evidence to post here. He's just another troll...

Anonymous said...

Ok, here's a good one...Tony Avella put a swimming pool in his backyard and failed to get the proper zoning permits!! And he is the Zoning chairman in the City Council. And then he refused to do follow the law. The bulk of his campaign money comes from special interests...parking garage, real estate, developers...but he'll publicly deny this. Wake up people. He's a phony and he's clearly got some of you fooled (but not the overwhelming majority as you can see by his continued dead last position in every single poll).

Anonymous said...

GO TONY!!!!!
Avella was the first politician to come to our aid when residents began to protest the monstrosity hotel planned for Kew Gardens. He supported our cause even though we're not in his district. Our own representative, Melinda Katz,the darling of the construction lobby (check out the source of her major campaign contributions) basically told us to get lost. Helen Marshall didn't even have the common decency to respond to our requests for intervention. Few other politicians have the fortitude to stand up to the builders and protect middle class neighborhoods from being overrun with dangerous, ill conceived projects which will permanently alter our lives for the worse. For the record, Avella did not just put in face time. He's still following up with the most rank, corrupt department in NYC--the DOB.

Anonymous said...

"The bulk of his campaign money comes from special interests...parking garage, real estate, developers..."

So why do they all hate him? Because he doesn't vote their way. I am happy that he can accept money from special interests but not be swayed by that.

Anonymous said...

i love tony he's the only one that stands up for what's right and what's right for the people i hope he doe's good

Anonymous said...

"Take a reality pill. He will never ever ever ever ever be elected Mayor or anything else for that matter. Wake up."

Who is this? Jim Gennaro? It's gotta be.
Hey Gennaro:
Does it suck to be one of the only Democrats to LOSE in this last election? Huh?
Don't you EVER knock on my door again. You're a phony.

Anonymous said...

He should smile more. He won't win, but maybe all his complaining will land him another job in another industry or a another position in politics. He has to stamp his feet because no one knows who he is outside of Bayside and term limits effect his future.
I wish him luck , it would be amazing if he won but lets be honest with ourselves. Money, money and money help you become Mayor.

Anonymous said...

the pink grandmother rapist lowlife asswipe is in the building.

Anonymous said...

go tony !!!!!!! he he was first to help the people of willet point and he will do whats right for all people italian girl thanks for the web site im sending $$ now .

Anonymous said...

as much as a lot of people want Avella to become the next mayor, do you really think he has a legitimate shot? be honest with yourself. these days it is almost impossible to get elected from an outer borough. he is running against bloomberg, weiner and thompson, all three are known throughout the city more than Avella.

Anonymous said...

"italian girl thanks for the web site im sending $$ now ."

Great! I hope more people who follow Queens Crap do the same.

I just wrote out a check also.

Anonymous said...

Again, wake up people. Real estate, parking lot and other over-developers don't hate Avella. They love him!!!!!! He is only opposed to Willets and some minor development in his district for his own cheap politics. He is ALL for development in Manhattan where it matters. As a Bayside resident, he is not representing my interests...nor has he ever.

Anonymous said...

Tony Avella is the only choice for Mayor - he represents the hard working stiff who wants to keep our neigborhoods safe, clean and is against big development and maintaining neighborhood low density.

Anonymous said...

Tony Avella is an honorable man. He represents a hope for this city. The people who think he can't win are the people who accept the corrupt policies that have allowed Queens to become more and more unlivable each day. The time to get behind Tony is NOW!!!

Anonymous said...

TONY CAN DO IT! STOP YOUR WHINING AND COMPLAINING AND VOLUNTEER FOR AVELLA,

Anonymous said...

"the pink grandmother rapist lowlife asswipe is in the building."

Are you talking about Dennis P. Gallagher, who has lost everything, his reputation, his wife, his kids and everything else? No one is more deserving of his fate than Dennis P. Gallagher. Here' a guy who has made lying and cheating a daily part of his life. The chickens have come home to roost. Yes Virginia, there is a God. And the wretched Dennis P. Gallagher is proof positive.

Anonymous said...

Go Tony... Dump the dog, Katz!

Anonymous said...

Tony for Mayor, 2009.
The only elected official in NYC that I know of that has ANY integrity.

Spread the word people,
it's NOT impossible,
Tony can and should win.

GO TONY GO

Anonymous said...

Tony is the best out there and he was one of 2 council member who voted against the 25% pay hike christine quinn and the other members gave themselves and he spoke against extending term limits without a public referendum. tony is the best, Gennaro is a phony and i hope he loses reelection.

Anonymous said...

if tony was mayor then the city returns to the people and not the special lobbyists. look at how much money melinda katz raise through her land use and giving rezoning rights to the developer and driving us out of the city.g

Anonymous said...

if tony was mayor then the city returns to the people and not the special lobbyists. look at how much money melinda katz raise through her land use and giving rezoning rights to the developer and driving us out of the city.g

Anonymous said...

Being a jerk and unpopular with your colleagues and everyone else in Government is not the way to become Mayor. Just because Avella takes opposite positions doesn't make him management material. Having actual leadership skills does. And he doesn't have any. Can you misled believers even THINK about some quack like Avella being Mayor during a serious crisis like 9/11????? Makes me shiver just thinking about it. Don't let his nonsense fool you. Professional leadership AND REAL JOB CREDENTIALS are the only criteria the voters of this city should seriously consider. And Avella has none!!! Look at his resume. Total bureaucratic hack. Government jobs his whole life. No thanks. We can do better.

Anonymous said...

This last complainer is probably nervous they'd be out of a job should Avella win. You are obviously part of the corruption this city needs to rid itself of.

Anonymous said...

Italian Girl, there is nothing..absolutely nothing...to be nervous about. Avella has zero zilch squat chance of being elected Mayor or anything else for that matter. The gig is up and he is fraud. And everyone knows it. And so do you. But you are too busy being angry at the world to notice.

Anonymous said...

gig?

Anonymous said...

Yes, gig "something that swirls or is swirled." Look it up.

Anonymous said...

not jig?

"But you are too busy being angry at the world to notice."

Me, angry?

I'm like a big walking smiley face.

:)

Anonymous said...

"Don't you EVER knock on my door again. You're a phony." Sounds pretty angry to me.

Anonymous said...

Bottom Feeder Anonymous said:
"Being a jerk and unpopular with your colleagues and everyone else in Government is not the way to become Mayor. Just because Avella takes opposite positions doesn't make him management material. Having actual leadership skills does. And he doesn't have any. Can you misled believers even THINK about some quack like Avella being Mayor during a serious crisis like 9/11????? Makes me shiver just thinking about it. Don't let his nonsense fool you. Professional leadership AND REAL JOB CREDENTIALS are the only criteria the voters of this city should seriously consider. And Avella has none!!! Look at his resume. Total bureaucratic hack. Government jobs his whole life. No thanks. We can do better."

Here's one more example of creative, independent lockstep groupthink.

Another minnow as valedictorian at the small fry school of onethought!

Anonymous said...

I think that the "Hell Gate Kid" was rolling a joint at the same time he was viewing President Obama's address to that joint session of Congress.

Anonymous said...

So some of you out there don't think that Tony Avella has a chance to become mayor?

You must be some of the same "voters" that didn't think Senator Obama had a chance to become president either!

THE TIMES THEY-ARE-A-CHANGIN'!

And Mayor Bum-berg
still can't find a political party that will have him!

The party's over Mike!
Didn't you notice the band packing up their instruments?

Anonymous said...

SEND BLOOMBERG THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR. Go away quietly and take your condescending and pompeous asshole staff with you.