Vincent Ignizio for NYC City Council

IGNIZIO OPENS CAMPAIGN HQ

ignizio — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:39:44 +0000

Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R,C,I – South Shore) officially opened the doors to his campaign headquarters at 4059 Hylan Blvd in Great Kills this morning at 10:00am. There wasn’t much time for fanfare as dozens of campaigns flooded the surrounding neighborhood to canvass the entire town.

Anyone wishing to volunteer at HQ may stop by or merely sign up at www.vinnyignizio.com.

Addressing staff, volunteers and friends, Ignizio said, “Now comes the hard part, the last month before election day is crucial to get our message out. This is when the real work begins and I know my supporters will carry me through election day. I can’t thank you all enough.”

Ignizio Buys Beach Cleaner for South Shore Beaches

ignizio — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:49:25 +0000

Device delivered today performs with spectacular results

Councilman Vincent Ignizio is proud to announce that the Charington beach cleaner that he had sought for the Parks department was delivered this morning to Conference House Beach. This device was suggested by the Councilman, who then secured $100,000 towards its purchase.

The Charington Beach Cleaner is capable of 8mph and can even go into several inches of water. This machine is specifically designed for the natural and narrow type beaches that circumnavigate the South Shore. It can filter glass, cigarettes, plastic and even reduce the amount of bacteria in the sand.

“I feel confident to say that we will soon have some of the cleanest beaches in the city. We are an Island community and should do all we can to enhance our waterline,” said Ignizio. “I hope I can fund a couple more next year.”

The Charington Cleaner will be able to be used on public beaches from Conference House to Wolfe’s Pond Park and beyond.

Staten Island pols call on MTA to take over 2 privately-operated bus routes

ignizio — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:41:37 +0000

By Staten Island Advance

September 29, 2009, 10:31AM

Advance file photo/Jan Somma-HammelAtlantic Express currently has a contract with the city to operate two South Shore bus routes. A number of Staten island elected officials want that to change.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A coalition of Staten Island elected officials are calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to take over two privately-operated express bus routes on the South Shore of Staten Island.

The x23 and x24 lines — which are operated by Atlantic Express under contract with the MTA — are the last non-publicly operated routes in the city, the officials said. The MTA has previously said it would take over the routes, but likely is scrapping that plan altogether because of economic concerns.

“Staten Island commuters are being taken for a ride by the MTA who are once again feigning poverty, literally at our expense. This is a shame,” said Assemblyman Lou Tobacco (R-South Shore). “The state and federal government just gave the MTA $2.2 billion this year, which is on top of new revenue coming in from higher fares, fees and new taxes. Now is exactly the time when the MTA should be able to afford taking over these bus routes and allow the $12 million to be used to improve Staten Island’s transportation system.”

Tobacco was joined by City Councilmen Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) and James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn), state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) in blasting the agency for reneging on an earlier plan.

“I remind Jay Walder [the new head of the MTA] of those immortal lyrics from the Who’s Pete Townshend, ‘Meet the new boss; same as the old boss, ‘” Oddo said.” “Same MTA. Same disdain for Staten Island. Same struggle by all of us to try and get fairness.”

The city is currently paying Atlantic Express $12 million to operate the routes, but the pols would rather that money spent on other transportation projects in the borough.

“It is imperative that we persuade the MTA to comply with their obligation to provide additional bus service to Staten Island whom they have habitually underserved,” Lanza said, and was echoed by Ignizio.

“It’s time to hold the MTA’s feet to the fire when it comes to fulfilling their obligation,” he said. “It’s the MTA’s job to provide bus service, and their failure in doing so doesn’t go unnoticed. A deal is a deal.” said Ignizio.

The Charleston Annex — the borough’s long-awaited third bus depot — is expected to open next summer, and will include outdoor parking for approximately 200 buses.

“Staten Islanders have heard about the construction of a third bus depot for years now, and we are all pleased to see it’s finally coming to fruition,” McMahon said. “Having the MTA take over operation of these two express bus lines is a good first step and would demonstrate their commitment to the commuters and hard-working people of Staten Island.”

New right-turn lane offers traffic relief in Great Kills

ignizio — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:19:22 +0000

It was paid for by the developer of a new medical and professional building at the corner

Friday, September 25, 2009

By MAURA YATES

ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Drivers will be able to skirt traffic at a busy Great Kills intersection, with the opening of a new right-turn lane at the intersection of Nelson Avenue and Amboy Road, expected as early as today.

The curved turning lane was paid for by the developer of a new medical and professional building at the corner. The improvement is part of an initiative to tackle traffic on a grand scale, by working in small tweaks wherever possible.

“That’s how you have to work these things, intersection by intersection,” said City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore), who helped broker the deal between the city and developer Julio Mulkay of A&E Development Corp.

The city worked out a compromise deal with Mulkay during the planning for the building, which replaces an old real estate office that had been built in the bed of what, on the city map, is part of Nelson Avenue.

Mulkay agreed to cover the nearly $150,000 cost of installing the new lane, which will include a landscaped pedestrian island.

In exchange, the new building will score nine parking spots using city-owned land, with the understanding those spaces will be lost if and when Nelson is ever widened to its originally intended 80-foot width. There are no current plans to widen the street.

“It’s going to be a big improvement,” said Borough President James Molinaro, who has been working on getting more private developers to foot the bill for road widenings and other improvements. “That’s how we’re going to do it. One corner at a time.”

Maura Yates covers transportation news for the Advance. She may be reached at myates@siadvance.com.

Ignizio Launches Drug Take-Back Program

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:30:46 +0000

Take-back program targets pill peril

Councilmen and independent pharmacies ally in fight against Rx drug abuse

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

By FRANK DONNELLY

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Responding to an Advance probe chronicling the prescription-drug epidemic plaguing Staten Island, the borough’s city councilmen and independent pharmacy owners announced yesterday a voluntary drug take-back program aimed at ridding homes here of unnecessary narcotics.

Borough residents can bring unused, unneeded or expired drugs to one of 10 participating pharmacies, where they will be properly disposed of for free.

Too often, powerful narcotics, such as painkillers, are flushed down the toilet when no longer needed, and can eventually mix into lakes, rivers and streams, officials said. Even worse, the drugs are increasingly snatched by teens without their parents’ or relatives’ knowledge and used recreationally or sold on the street.

“The Advance’s award-winning journalism has brought this issue to the forefront,” said Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore), a program sponsor along with his colleagues, James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Kenneth Mitchell (D-North Shore). “When these prescription drugs stay in the medicine chest, it makes it ripe for kids to get addicted to them. The message is clear: Get these ‘weapons’ out of your house.”

See the full story on Silive.com

City Council to Delve into Ferryboat Woes

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:27:45 +0000

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

By MAURA YATES

ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The City Council is holding an oversight hearing tomorrow regarding the new Molinari-class Staten Island ferryboats, which have been plagued by breakdowns and mechanical and electrical problems since their delivery in 2005.

Staten Islanders are invited to attend the hearing, “The New Molinari-Class Vessels, Ferries or Lemons?” which will take place at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, in Lower Manhattan.

Council members plan to examine the facts surrounding the purchase of the three new boats, their subsequent problems, and the general state of ferry service in 2009.

Islanders who can’t attend in person are asked to submit written testimony via e-mail directly to the borough’s Council delegation.

Councilmen James Oddo, Vincent Ignizio and Ken Mitchell can be reached at joddo@council.nyc.gov, vignizio@council.nyc.gov and kmitchell@council.nyc.gov, respectively.

Maura Yates covers transportation news for the Advance. She may be reached at myates@siadvance.com.

Hearing set on New Staten Island Ferry Boats

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:31:09 +0000

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Are the new ferries lemons?

That’s the question for city Department of Transportation brass Thursday at a City Hall hearing, spurred by the Advance’s revelations of breakdowns and other mechanical and electrical issues with the new Molinari-class Staten Island Ferry boats.

Most recently, a July propulsion system failure on the Sen. John J. Marchi caused a hard landing at St. George that sent 15 people to the hospital.

The borough City Council delegation requested a Council oversight hearing, “The New Molinari-Class Vessels, Ferries or Lemons?” to examine the facts surrounding the purchase of the three newest ferryboats, the subsequent problems encountered since their delivery, and the general state of ferry service in 2009.

The hearing is set for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall in Manhattan.

Though the time of the hearing makes it difficult for many Islanders to attend in person, written testimony can be submitted via e-mail directly to Councilmen James Oddo, Vincent Ignizio and Ken Mitchell at joddo@council.nyc.gov, vignizio@council.nyc.gov and kmitchell@council.nyc.gov.

Interested parties must give their names to be entered into the official record.

Full article on SILIVE.com

Staten Island’s Busiest Roads to be Paved

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:26:40 +0000

Staten Island’s bad road conditions deteriorated in recent months to the point the borough’s three city councilmen had to pool $2 million in capital money to pay for a milling contractor to break even on road repair this year.

Ignizio Announces Movies in the Park 2009

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:55:03 +0000

Ignizio Announces 5^th Annual “Movies in the Park” Schedule

Annual Event Sponsored by the Councilman to Run Four Nights in Sept. and Oct.

Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R, C, I – South Shore) is pleased to announce the schedule for his annual Movies in the Park this fall in four different parks on the South Shore. This is the fifth year in a row the Councilman sponsored this event, after he first proposed United Activities Unlimited organize it in 2005. Other sponsors this year include the Richmond County Savings Foundation, Time Warner Cable, the New York City Park’s Department, and Health Plus.

This year’s features are as follows:

Saturday, September 12^th Conference House Park

The Jonas Brothers Concert Experience

Friday, September 18^th Seaside Nature Park (Nelson Ave)

Kung Fu Panda

Friday, September 25^th Wolfe’s Pond Park

High School Musical 3

Friday, October 2^nd Bloomingdale Park

Madagascar 2

As always, the movies begin at sunset, but patrons are encouraged to come earlier to get seats on the lawn and to enjoy giant inflatable rides and free popcorn. Be sure to bring snacks for yourselves; however Councilman Ignizio asks that each family bring an item of canned food to support a local food pantry.

“Every year gets better and better,” said Ignizio, “and this year will prove to be the best yet. U.A.U. and I have teamed up on summer camps and after school programs, but this is my favorite program because it gets the whole family together. I hope all of my neighbors can come out and make this a fun, safe and family-friendly night out.”

For more information, people may call Councilman Ignizio’s office at (718) 984-5151 or United Activities Unlimited at (718) 981-7328.

City Delegation to aid Island’s hospitals

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:45:03 +0000

Health care on Staten Island, riding a wave with the recent christening of Staten Island University Hospital’s new emergency room, may soon receive another big boost — with the city’s help.

Read the Advance Article here:

At last, Island’s 2 hospitals may get much-needed help from the city