Friday, March 1, 2013

Paul Graziano announces City Council candidacy

From the Times Ledger:

When discussing his decision to enter a crowded Democratic primary race and challenge City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone), Flushing’s Paul Graziano did not hesitate to emphasize his focus on fighting over-development in northeast Queens.

For nearly two decades, the urban planning consultant has kept a close watch on the borough’s historic buildings and landmarks and has become a known name in the civic association community because of it. In an interview with TimesLedger Newspapers, the borough activist said he hoped to address quality-of- life issues in northeast Queens by taking a look at zoning laws and considering designating historic districts.

“I believe in property rights, but we need to save the things that are important to us,” Graziano said. “There has to be a balance. It is outrageous that we have had to fight tooth and nail for our districts.”

After attending college at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Graziano returned home to Flushing to realize new concerns over his hometown’s future landscape. With his interest piqued, he then went on to educate himself on zoning law as well as the civic community, earned a masters of science in urban affairs and planning from Hunter College and helped form the North Flushing Civic Association.

Graziano spent the better part of the last 20 years working in various civics throughout northeast Queens and even teamed up with state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) as a land use and planning consultant in his earlier days as a councilman to help draft a zoning study of the 19th Council District, where he is now running. The redrawn district now includes Little Neck, Bayside, Douglaston, North Flushing, Whitestone, Auburndale and College Point.

That study eventually went on to ensure that any new development in northeast Queens would remain respectful, or in-context, to the surrounding community, Graziano said.

“It was a huge change. Now, areas have stabilized dramatically,” Graziano said. “This still allows for development, but creates a more predictable outcome. It is about saving neighborhoods that deserve to be saved.”


And from Bayside-Douglaston Patch:

In September, he will face off in the Democratic primary for the City Council’s 19th District against Paul Vallone, who is the brother of Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., Empire State Development’s Austin Shafran, Democratic state committeeman Matthew Silverstein and former state Assemblyman John Duane.

“I’m involved in the Democratic Party but all of the other people I’m running against are either in elected office or part of the machine,” Graziano said. “I’m not connected with any of that.”

Graziano, who has a master’s degree in urban affairs, left the Green Party in 2009 to assist then-Councilman Tony Avella in his bid for mayor. But he said the communities that he hopes to represent are not driven by political party loyalty.

“It’s a very apolitical district that focuses on quality of life issues,” said Graziano, who listed education and neighborhood preservation as two of his top campaign issues. “As someone who went to the public schools here and, as someone who is about to get married, there are great concerns about the way the schools have been moving. Districts 25 and 26 have typically been the gold standard, but 25 was recently listed as a district in need. It’s very distressing.”


This photo from the Queens Examiner shows that Graziano attended Tony Avella's press conference on 149th Street last Friday:



Curiously, the Queens Gazette used a cropped shot:

Then you look at their main page and see this:


There actually are 8 Vallone mentions on the online cover of the Gazette this week. Granted, they are Peter Vallone, Jr. mentions, not Paul Vallone.  Pete's head must have exploded when he saw another Italian-American vying for "his brother's seat."

And then the cherry on top of the hysteria over this particular candidate entering the race comes from Queens Politics, courtesy of blogger Adam Lombardi:
Rumor has it Tony Avella propped up a lobbyist for the City Council primary to divide the voting blocs in district 19.
Paul Graziano, who works at an architectural firm in New Jersey as an urban planner (and also worked for Avella) could be part of a massive scheme of voter manipulation with Tony Avella at the helm.
Was Graziano influenced by Avella to run? It’s the million dollar question. The relationship is there and is very concerning.
Questions arise like did Tony Avella hand out proclamation in return for bankrolling his campaign as Graziano did time and time again? Is it favor for a favor? Are the voters going to buy into this power play? After all, seems like Graziano often rewards his former boss in campaign donations for such recognition.
Graziano is an activist, a good activist at that, and we don’t want to see him promoted beyond his level of ability. But to see him being used as a pawn in Avella’s devious political manipulation of the electoral system speaks volumes about his character. 
It’s not rocket science folks.
There is no rumor that this happened, because Paul Graziano is not a lobbyist. The only former lobbyist in the district 19 race is in fact, Paul Vallone. I highly doubt that people other than Lombardi and the Vallones are so delusional that they believe Tony Avella pushed Graziano into the race. Graziano ran for City Council in 2001, has long been mentioned as a possible candidate this year and has been urged by many residents of the newly drawn 19th council district to throw his hat into the ring.

Lombardi seems to be seriously suggesting that Graziano donated money to Avella and is running for Council as a favor to him in return for proclamations which have no monetary value. This kid should lay off the funny cigarettes.  He actually sits on the board of the Bayside Historical Society, yet insinuated on his blog that there was some kind of backroom deal involving awards given out at their meeting.  All to show allegiance to the Vallones.  Now that's kinda sick, dontcha think?

The ultimate stupidity: "Graziano is an activist, a good activist at that, and we don’t want to see him promoted beyond his level of ability."

Lombardi fancies himself some sort of reformer, but instead is doing a wonderful job of being Paul Vallone's Mini-Me, and is blogging about things that are WAY beyond his own level of ability or comprehension.

In simpler language: When this troll doesn't like what he sees, he simply makes shit up.

Many with whom I have spoken feel that Graziano is more than qualified to be a council member. And judging by what's in the council now, I totally agree with them!

[That's right folks, I have Photoshop again.  Let the fun begin.  Lots more where this came from...]

68 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL!
Here is Don Paulo...a la famiglia di Vallone...the ol' chrome domed developers' lobbyist...with his footman, the miniscule, Adam Blobardi.

Not to worry...Adam is just tall enough to be able to lick Paul's ass on command.

Batman had his Robin...but this tiny chitrool can't even tie his own shoe laces without proper instruction from the "V" dynasty.

Adam is a true troll...in stature, character (lack of any) and his devotion to his padrone.

Anonymous said...

These are the kinds of people that Paulie Vallone has on his team?

They couldn't bunt a ball to the infield.

Paulie Vallone said...

"G-R-R-R-R...son of a bitch...
that city council seat belongs to me and my family"!

Anonymous said...

That's the best job of photo shop yet, Crappy...
and it's so revealing!

Wadda ya got to say Mr. Charles Apelian?

a resident and BFHA member said...

We noticed that Paul Vallone made a rare appearance at the Broadway Flushing Homeowners Association's meeting last night.

The last time he attended a BFHA meeting , was when he was running for city council the last time around.

Can you trust this developers' lobbyist to represent us at city hall?

Smile, circulate and press the flesh all you want Don Paulo, but practically everybody in northeast Queens has got your number.

They don't want their nabes turned into another Astoria!

Jerry Rotondi said...

Way to go Paul G. !!!
Hope you got my donation check!

I've worked with Paul Graziano on neighborhood and historic preservation issues for decades.

He lives here among us and I trust his devotion to our neighborhoods in maintaining our good quality of life.

My vote follows my campaign contribution to him.

Anonymous said...

My dear little Adam,
I'd take a community activist over a developers lobbyist any day.

Him I can trust...your slimy boss I cannot!

Check out the Vallone law firm and discover how many real estate developers they represent for yourselves.
See who has contributed mega bucks to their political campaigns.

Anonymous said...

A dem toady going up against another dem toady.
All of this is good news for Halloran.

Jon Torodash said...

"Graziano is an activist, a good activist at that, and we don’t want to see him promoted beyond his level of ability"

What an arrogant pronouncement. As if Lombardi was crowned with special wisdom to determine ability for political office, and as if he speaks for any "we" besides himself.

As he says on queens-politics.com in caption to one his many self-promoting photogaphs speaking at the Clinton Democratic Club, "It was at this moment when I realized talking is my only marketable skill." I sincerely he does have one marketable skill, because useful and informative reporting doesn't seem to be it.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Lombardi,
I don't want to see Paul Vallone promoted beyond his level of ability as an estate manager, trust fund lawyer and real estate lobbyist.

Be forewarned you voters out there...put Vallone in the city council, and kiss your neighborhood goodbye!

Anonymous said...

If a member of the Vallone family were to fart, Adam Lombardi would end up with a broken nose.

The Vallones should cut their ties to Lombardi before he brings them down.

Anonymous said...

It's good news for Halloran (a traitor to his district)
only in Dan's own addled mind.

An awful lot of voters are highly dissatisfied with this oddball's performance.

Dan is all about his ideology, and has turned his back on representing his constituents.

In reality...he craves a judgeship...and is using his political foot in the door to go for it!

LOL!
Maybe he can persuade some of his ex pagan Theod cult clan members to support him.

I doubt even that because they've dumped Dan from their ranks as their grand atheling.

Sieg heil, mine fuhrer!

Anonymous said...

Adam would be perfect in blue silk garb and a turban...laying himself down before Count Vallone...to be used as a step stool...while his better, Paulo, steps on his back to enter his coach.

"Drive on! We must not be late to the real estate board"!

Anonymous said...

LOL!
Is Lombardi the best Italian gnome that Vallone can come up with to kiss his knees?

He'd need a bigger toad stool to reach any higher.

Anonymous said...

It almost looks like the early days of television.
Can that be Captain Video with his Video Ranger?

No, it can't be...this transmission is in full color.

Anonymous said...

The last time around four years ago, the Dems September Primary candidates killed each other, and Halloran just waltzed in, in November. With an already Dems crowded field now, why is this different this time around?

Anonymous said...

By now Vallone and his supporters, Lombardi, Apelian, Dorsa, etc. must be boiling!

Anonymous said...

Now which blog tells the truth, Queens Crap or Adam's?

Anonymous said...

Love those matching pinky rings!
Nice touch, Crappy!

Anonymous said...

Idiot...
Halloran "waltzed in" because candidate Kevin Kim was Ackerman's stooge...and he would have turned the northeast into Korea Town Flushing....over developed and unrepresented.

If the Dems had run a qualified real contender in the race...Halloran wouldn't have made it to dog catcher!

Anonymous said...

My, my, my....
it looks like the Vallone and Halloran trolls are up early this morning.

Paul Graziano's announcement must have dropped like a hot cruise missile directly into their camps.

Immobilized and full of Imodium they are now attending to damage control.

Anonymous said...

If the Gazette wants to cover Vallones so closely, why don't they ask him why he has done nothing about that medical facility a few doors away from his office?

Anonymous said...

i believe graziano needs to be in this contest, the vallones are only interested in making money on developement and halloran has accomplished nothing during his tenure.

Anonymous said...

I would love for Al to take on Halloran.

Think about it. After the primaries a Centola Graziano face off. Win win for district 19.

Anonymous said...

Good News for Halloran ODDS
V
allone vs Halloran Toss Up Edge Even

Graziano vs Halloran Toss Up with Halloran Edge

Duane Vs Halloran Halloran by 4 points

Shaffrab vs HALLORAN halloran by 5 points

silverstein vs halloran halloran by 30 points

centola vs halloran centola by 20 points

Anonymous said...

Centola would wipe the floor with Dan by just saying nothing. He is a neighborhood guy who does the right thing for his community. Now he's working with Graziano and others with their Save Flushing Meadiws Corona Park coalition

Anonymous said...

Centola, a great guy, couldn't wipe the floor with a mop in an election.

Unfortunately, he's unelectable.

Enough of your horn tooting and come back to a real solution.

Anonymous said...

Whoa....
it's 4:43 PM and the Halloran and Vallone trolls must have crapped out!

Refill your Imodiun gents!

Duane Reade is open late. Then you can return to commenting...LOL!

Anonymous said...

And pray tell,
what level should you be promoted to Adam?

Is that a Florida tan, or are you spending too much time below Paul's belt?

Get out in the real sun and away from you keyboard.

You're a self centered bore!

Anonymous said...

The sooner Vallone cuts Lombardi loose, the better off he is.

"ll gnommo" fancies himself a political blogger, but in reality he's just a clubhouse crook's stooge.

Don Paulo insists on playing a numbers game with the voters.

Too bad that the voters have already got "The Don's" number! He's a liar...albeit not as bad as "doofy" Dan Halloran.

Dan's panty hose caught fire 3 months into his term.
It then spread to consume his pagan god Theod skirt.

Anonymous said...

An S&M pair if I ever saw it!
Which one does the beating and which one enjoys it?

a Queens queen said...

Please stop heckling Adam.

He's a cute as a Teddy bear.

Wanna have coffee with me Mr. Lombardi?

We don't have to tell your mother (or wife?).

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember "The Cone Heads"?
Introducing Paul Val-cone!

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Apelian...now you know what's up!
Maybe you can hustle another printing contract for yourself.

Time to climb aboard your flying carpet and take off.
Your "advisory" empire is becoming threadbare.

Be a good neighbor and ask your neighbor John Liu to share the ride. He's in deep doo-doo too.

Anonymous said...

These Centola people are relentless. Al is not running so get over it. He should back Graziano end of story.

As for being un electable, I disagree. But it doesn't matter because he is not running and has no desire to run.

Anonymous said...

N.E.Queens was turned into a unrepresented and overdeveloped section many years before Halloran was elected.

but then,L.I.V.can't stand the truth.

and those voters with a blog are fearful of their fav's being criticized.

Anonymous said...

Only good thing Adam Lombardi has done Is open up that can of worms in Whitestone Where they dumped all that illegal soil. It backfired on him and Now theyll be looking into Paul and his ties to the lobbying firm his daddy runs.

Thank Adam for putting the nail in your downfall Paulie

Carmine said...

Paul Graziano has my vote.

Anonymous said...

Yawn...here he goes...
it's that disgruntled full of BS Ass-torian that's ranting against Northeast Queens again.

It's Astoria-LIC that's been unrepresented and over developed for decades.

If you're jealous of our low density zoning, sell your digs and move out here.

anotherunelectable big mouth said...

Good Lord give it up. Centola is unelectable.
He's a late comer big mouth with no track record of much.

But i must admit I admire him for telling the truth.

Anonymous said...

Yessiree...Adam is giving Paulie a case of political indigestion.

The midget...the fat lady....the sword swallower...what a circus. What a side show. Who's being featured in the freak tent next?

Anonymous said...

That can of worms in Whitestone....do you mean the Barone Vallone job...involving a dirty mob firm's fill from Brooklyn?

A pair of stronzos Italiano!

Anonymous said...

Paul Vallone's Francis Lewis B'lvd. law office.
Is that where his cult drinks the Kool Aid?

I hope you voters aren't going to swallow Paul's swill.

Anonymous said...

Adam Lombardi is a stand-up citizen and power activist. As a result of his work, we can all look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

What has his activism accomplished? All he does is shill for certain Dems on his blog. I can get that from subscribing to the Queens Times.

Anonymous said...

Why is Lombardi shirtless in the mugshot photo?

Anonymous said...

Here's how you know Lombardi is smoking something: Paul works for a NJ architectural firm? When did he find the time to do that? Making things up. Pulling things out of his ass. What vote does he think is going to be split by his entry into the race? The mobsters with the McMansions are still going to vote Vallone. The Italians with sense now have a candidate to turn out for.

Anonymous said...

LOL...Adam Lombardi is a stand up citizen?

My dick still stands up at attention when a pretty lady walks by...so I guess that I'm a stand up citizen too!

That little prick is clubhouse, legend in his own mind.
As his girlfriend (whatever) might say, "Is it in yet"?

Anonymous said...

Those Mc Mansion mobsters represent only a small portion of the vote.

Now YOU are pulling things out of your ass!

Anonymous said...

Whoever wins the race...our district's zoning is super great!

It's on a parr with posh Riverdale...and that's what really counts in the end.

You can't build a downtown Flushing or Astoria in a mostly R 1-2A zone.

Learn to read the zoning maps...instead of your mouth going "flap-flap"!

Anonymous said...

This particular post abounds with clairvoyant political pundits.

Most couldn't pick a winning lottery number.

Adam Lombardi couldn't pick lice from his own scalp.

Anonymous said...

LOL!
Queens Crap versus Adam's mindless blog.
Who do you think will win?

Not the little "finnochio"!
My money's on QC!

Anonymous said...

"Those Mc Mansion mobsters represent only a small portion of the vote."

My point exactly.

Anonymous said...

Have Dan Halloran's trolls given up commenting?
Nobody's kissed that Theod pagan former grand atheling's ass since yesterday.

"Deutchland, Deutchland, uber alus".
Maybe he's a closet Nazi hiding amongst those tea party butt heads!

Anonymous said...

My bad for misunderstanding your Mc Mansion point.

Anonymous said...

Those mobsters, at the behest of Mr. Zucarello (Queens Garden Center) , pushed Halloran into office.

That was an easy choice...when faced with the crappy option of Kevin Kim holding office.

I even voted for "doofy" Dan last time around.

But this will be the last vote that fruitcake gets from me.

Anonymous said...

Here's how you know Lombardi is smoking something: Paul works for a NJ architectural firm? When did he find the time to do that?

------

Adam clearly read the original version of the Bayside Patch that came out on Thursday afternoon, which stated that I worked at an architectural firm in NJ called Mayo, Lynch and Associates.

The problem is that the Patch got it right except for one thing: WRONG DECADE. I was a consultant at Mayo, Lynch from 1997 to 2003 and haven't worked there since (but remain close friends).

I founded my own consulting firm, Associated Cultural Resource Consultants, which specializes in urban planning, historic preservation and land use issues (particularly to protect neighborhoods and towns from overdevelopment) in 2003. I've continued to consult, advise and volunteer either individually, through my firm or other organizations (QCC, HDC, etc.) to help protect towns, neighborhoods and individual properties from being overdeveloped, demolished or otherwise destroyed beyond recognition.

I let a real journalist, Nathan Duke, know that his information was wrong and he fixed it within the hour.

Paul Graziano



Anonymous said...

Ah, so Lombardi didn't even do his own research. I guess he thought it would make Paul look like some kind of carpetbagger if he worked in NJ. If he is such a bad guy, we should have read about it on Adam's blog before Thursday lthe same way we've been reading for years on this blog about things the other Paul has been involved with.

Anonymous said...

Adam eats (then posts) what the Vallones feed him, which is usually horse shit.

Yummy...and Adam thinks its gift wrapped Godiva!

Anonymous said...

This is a direct quote from Don Paulo political mafioso Vallone:

"That's my seat"...referring to Halloran whipping his ass.

The Vallones are a family of arrogant thugs who think they are entitled to be kings of NYC just because their forefather Charlie "the (crooked?) judge" Vallone put them through law school.

Before you vote to hand over Queens to La Famiglia Di Vallone, look at how these political mobsters have ruined Astoria.

Then ask yourself this one question.

Do you trust Paul Vallone to protect your neighborhood?

My vote is for the other Paul...GRAZIANO!

Anonymous said...

Seems this guy graziano is making the club types nervous.....i'm in for 100 bucks.

Anonymous said...

In this corner
we have Paul the real estate industry's lobbyist Vallone.

In the other corner
we have Paul our neighborhood protection champion Graziano.

Let the fight begin.
My money is on the champ, Paul "Rocky" Graziano!

Anonymous said...

Remember the 1957 Sylvania Beechhurst thorium radioactive fallout? Remember Eutectic leaching groundwater cancer? What can he do?

Anonymous said...

A lot more than Don Paulo mafioso Valloney-baloney can do! He's doing business representing a mob firm that dumped toxic Brooklyn fill in Whitestone.

Hope you Malba-Beechurst-Whitestone goombahs like
the poison you and your family are absorbing because of the Vallone-Barone connection!.

Anonymous said...

The Vallones have always lived in Malba. That's why their original district connected Malba to Astoria using the airport.

Anonymous said...

The Vallones have always lived in Malba?
I think you're wrong.

But the GAVONES live in Malba for sure!

Anonymous said...

Another politician. Just what we need.

Anonymous said...

Hey Crappy, what's the deal with Candidate Austin Shafran ? I'm sure you can dig up some dirt on him & his family....he worked for Malcom Smith, what does he have to hide ?