We - as a city, as homeowners, as taxpayers, as parents, as residents - are in the midst of some difficult times. But given the improvements we’ve made over the past few years and our success in maintaining the quality of life of residents in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, I’m confident that together we’ll continue to protect, preserve and improve our neighborhood.

Over the past couple years, I have fought successfully to get rebate checks to homeowners when Mayor Bloomberg refused to send them out; through the establishment of a Bay Ridge Greenmarket, I made sure that fresh, healthful food would be available to residents after a local supermarket closed. I’m fighting successfully to make sure that residents are safeguarded against being made targets of ticketing agents who want to close the city’s budget gap on the backs of taxpayers instead of making them partners in keeping our streets safe. I successfully identified locations for the construction of three new public schools in our neighborhoods, and I stopped neighborhood senior centers from closing when the Mayor wanted to consolidate them.

In the coming years, we’ll certainly have more battles to fight, and many more successes to celebrate. I want to thank you all for joining with me at rallies and in my office to let me know what in our community needs to be fixed, and to show your support when I stand up for what’s right. Check back here and on my blog for updates on legislation and events, and never hesitate to contact my offices with your concerns and questions.

See you around the neighborhood!

Vincent J. Gentile

Entered City Council:

Current Term Expiress: 12/31/2013

Represents:

Committees: Aging; Community Development; Fire & Criminal Justice; Parks & Recreation; Public Safety; Veterans

During his tenure as a New York State Senator (1997-2002) and now as a NYC Council Member, Vincent Gentile has been a persistent advocate for children and working families, the labor movement, senior citizens, and law enforcement in the City and State.  As senator, he championed the repeal of the sales tax on clothing and shoes, led the effort to establish Universal Pre-K in our schools and was the impetus in expanding the NYS prescription drug program for seniors. 

In the City Council, Gentile has brought millions of dollars of resources into his district for new capital programs for schools, parks, and libraries. As a former assistant district attorney (1985-1996), Councilman Gentile has a strong background in law enforcement; as a Council Member, he led the drive to add $12 million to the City budget to purchase upgraded bulletproof vests for NYC police officers.

In addition, he has been a leader in the Council in preserving the unique look and feel of residential neighborhoods throughout the city. Gentile engineered the largest-to-date rezoning in Brooklyn: 249 blocks in Bay Ridge and 159 blocks in Dyker Heights.  He has also led the City Council in advocating for comprehensive commuter ferry service in all five boroughs of New York City, securing $500,000 toward establishing ferry service to Manhattan at the 69th Street Pier in Bay Ridge.

Councilman Gentile is a firm proponent of the needs of working families and homeowners. He has fought against property tax rate increases and for the delivery of homeowners rebate checks. He  pioneered what has become a city-wide concern over the aggressive and unfair ticketing practices of enforcement agents, and established a successful Greenmarket in Bay Ridge in 2008.  

Councilman Gentile is Chair of a new Libraries Subcommittee. In that role, he has led the way in baselining library funding and adding six-day library service in every library branch throughout the entire city. 

Councilman Gentile was first elected in a special 2003 election, and was re-elected to his first full term in 2005. He may stand for re-election in 2009 and, under current law, again in 2013.

Bills recently introduced by Councilman Gentile are listed belows. Click on each bill's description for its full text and a report on its status:

• Int. 10: A bill to require DEP to monitor at least two major intersections on every designated heavy-use thoroughfare to reduce exposure risks when air-quality standards are violated.
  
• Int. 78: A bill to require the Board of Standards and Appeals to report to the City Council any variance or special permit granted despite a community board recommendation of disapproval or approval with conditions.
  
• Int. 109: A bill to exempt veterans organizations from FDNY fees relating to permits, inspections and performance tests.
  
• Int. 110: A bill that would require DOH to provide a period of time for non-profit organization to fix a health code violation in order to avoid payment of the associated fine. 
  
• Int. 111: A bill to require the establishment of at least one Veteran Resource Center in every borough.
  
• Int. 216: A bill to require New York City to accept Access-A-Ride identification cards and MTA reduced-fare MetroCards, when produced with an additional proof of address, to satisfy identity and residence requirements on the city's Disability Parking Permit application.
  
• Int. 302: A bill to prohibit city agencies and department from charging a fee relating to credit card payments.
  
• Int. 386: A bill to require businesses that allow the smoking of non-tobacco smoking products indoors to register with DOH and prohibit the opening of new businesses of this nature.
  
• Int. 387: A bill to provide Cold War veterans a partial property tax exemption.
  
• Int. 414: A bill to prohibit self-certification of curb cuts, require community board notification of curb-cut applications and require DOT to survey existing curb cuts to improve their future enforcement of existing, relevant regulations.
  
• Int. 415: A bill authorizing DOT to order a property owner to restore an illegal curb cut within 90 days and to restore the curb cut at the property owner's expense if the owner fails to restore the cut within 90 days.

• Councilman Gentile Introduces Legislation to Grant Cold War Veterans a Partial Property Tax Exemption in Honor of their Service (Oct. 27, 2010)
  
  
• Councilman Gentile Introduces Legislation to Protect New Yorkers from All Secondhand Smoke (Oct. 25, 2010)
  
  
• Councilman Gentile Unveils the New, Community-Chosen Name of the Leif Ericson Dust Bowl (Oct. 24, 2010)
  
  
• Testimony of Councilman Gentile at a Public Hearing on the Proposed Express Bus Bypass Service between South Brooklyn and Manhattan (Sept. 27, 2010)
  
  

Each week, Councilman Gentile's office receives at least a handful of complaints related to unfair parking tickets. Many of these cases are truly upsetting - one man was given a double-parking ticket when he stopped his car to help an elderly woman who had been struck by a bike to her feet; another man was given a ticket for parking at a fire hydrant when there was no actual hydrant anywhere near his car. In December 2008, a generous man who, each year, dresses as Santa Claus and hands out presents to children along 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge was given a double parking ticket.

The lack of good judgment on the part of many ticketing agents is disturbing, and Councilman Gentile is working to ensure fairness toward vehicle owners. Increasing the number of tickets handed out for the sole purpose of increasing revenue seems to be this city's goal, and drivers have got to know and be given the resources on how to protect themseves.

As always, you can turn to Councilman Gentile's district office for help on unfair tickets you've received. Below, you'll find documents that will give even more info on the steps to take to get a reduced fine, a list of the violations eligible for fine reduction, and a list of New York City Parking and Traffic Rules.

1. New York City Traffic and Parking Rules
   
   
2. List of Violations Eligible for Reduced Fines
   
   
3. Step-by-Step Instructions on Getting a Reduced Fine
   
   
4. Common Defenses Used to Fight Tickets and Evidence Requirements
   
   
5. New DOT Rule: More Parking Available at Some "T" Intersections
   1. Click here for a picture of an eligible intersection and the new parking spaces made available!

• Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, Chair
• Councilman James Vacca, Vice Chair
• Councilman Peter F. Vallone, Treasurer
• Councilman James Gennaro
• Councilman Vincent Ignizio
• Councilman James S. Oddo
• Councilman Domenic M. Reccia
• Councilman Eric Ulrich
• Councilman Daniel R. Garodnick

• Statement of Councilman Gentile on the Italian-American Recipient of the Medal of Honor (November 16, 2010)
  
  
• Council Members Re-Invigorate the New York City Council Italian-American Caucus (August 30, 2010)

For too long, Bay Ridge's incredible arts & culture organizations have enriched our own neighborhood but been largely overlooked by the rest of the borough and city. BRACA's mission: get our local arts & culture groups and programs the recognition and appreciation they deserve!

Advocating for these groups isn't just in the best interest of their members - it's for the good of our entire community. Recognizing Bay Ridge as a creative and culturally vibrant neighborhood means more visitors, a stronger local economy and greater investment in local businesses and the quality of life residents are able to enjoy. As we seek to complete our mission, the key word is "partnership": we hope to gain recognition of our local arts & culture scene through partnerships with local merchant associations and businesses, borough- and city-wide tourism boards and cross-promotion between different creative organizations.

Click here to download a packet listing BRACA's members and for more information on our organization's mission. Don't hesitate to contact any of our members for information on programs, classes or other opportunities! If you are interested in becoming involved in BRACA or have a specific question about our group, please contact Mike Fieni at mfieni@council.nyc.gov.