We - as a city, as homeowners, as taxpayers, as parents, as residents - are facing some difficult times. But given the improvements we’ve made over the past few years, I’m confident that together we’ll continue to fight successfully for the unique needs of the communities in District 43.

You can count on me to continue to fight for the well-being of the families and residents in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst. I fought successfully to get rebate checks to homeowners when Mayor Bloomberg refused to send them out; I fought successfully for fresh, healthful food to be made 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 fought successfully to identify locations for the construction of more public schools in our neighborhoods, and I fought successfully to keep neighborhood senior centers open 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.

See you around the neighborhood!

Vincent J. Gentile

Councilman Gentile's staff works with him to create and research legislation, communicate with the public and help constituents with issues ranging from transportation to social services to safety.

Depending on what you need help with or information on, you can contact any of his staff members (below). Send them an E-mail with your name and the best way to contact you, and they'll be in touch to help you in any way they can.

• Michael Sciaraffo, Legislative Director
  
  
• Dena Libner, Director of Communications
  
  
• Amy Lavelle, Office Manager/Scheduler
  
  
• Barbara Albanese, Constituent Liaison
  
  
• Stephanie Giovinco, Constituent Liaison
  
  
  

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.

Councilman Gentile is a firm supporter of the following pieces of legislation, all of which were introduced and/or voted on by the New York City Council after August 2008. He is a sponsor or co-sponsor of them all.

For more information on the status of these bills, please click on the bill description or call Councilman Gentile's legislative office at (212) 788-7363.

• Requiring companies to notify Council Members and Community Boards before applying for a permit to place a cell antenna or tower in the relevant district. Also requires the applicant to make every effort to establish the structure in a non-residential area.
  
• Requiring roll-down gates at commercial premises to be 70 percent see-through. 
  
• Granting health benefits to the family of Gennaro Montello, a DEP employee who died at Owl's Head Waste Water Treatment Plant.
  
• Establishing a five-minute grace period for certain parking violations.
  
• Suspension of Alternate Side Parking during Snowstorms
  
• Renaming the west side of Shore Road and 83rd Street "Richard Sherry Way"
  
• Requiring traffic agents to photograph all ticketable offenses and include that photo with all notices of violation
  
• Requiring certain commercial and residential buildings to provide bicycle storage for employees and residents.
  
• Creating civil penalties for damaging memorials honoring firefighters, police officers or armed service members.
  
• Allowing city employees, after two years of employment by New York City, to reside in Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland or Putnam county.
  
• Renaming 77th Street between 13th and 14th Avenue "Firefighter Joey Graffagnino Place."
  
• Automatically allowing vehicles parked at broken parking or muni-meters the maximum allowed time at that spot.
  
  

Councilman Gentile Opposes Proposed Water Rate Hike: "Raising rates in reaction to residents’ proven financial hardship is not just nonsensical – it’s cruel." (4.28.09)

Remarks by Councilman Gentile at a Street Co-Naming Ceremony for Richard Sherry (4.27.09)

Councilman Gentile Kicks Off Brooklyn Public Library Campaign (3.5.09)

Councilman Gentile to Hold Online Town Hall (2.3.09)

Councilman Gentile Pushes DOT for Dyker Heights Traffic Study (1.29.09)

Bill to Continue Health Benefits to Montello Family Passes (1.28.09)

Statement by Councilman Gentile on MTA Cuts (delivered at public hearing) (1.27.09)

Councilman Gentile supports bill to establish a five-minute grace period for certain parking violations (1.12.09)

Statement by Councilman Gentile on Death of DEP Employee at Owl's Head Waste Water Treatment Plant in Bay Ridge (1.9.09)

Councilman Gentile Collects more than 1,000 signatures to Save Local Bus Services (1.5.09)

Statement by Councilman Gentile on Withdrawal of Senior Center RFP by the Administration (12.19.09)

Councilman Gentile Announces School Location on Former Green Church Site in Bay Ridge (12.12.09)

Rebate Check Hearing Suspended: Councilman Gentile tells the Mayor to "Stop Toying with Homeowners" (12.11.09)

• Every Saturday: The Bay Ridge Greenmarket
  • From 8 AM to 3 PM, get the freshest groceries from local farmers at the Bay Ridge Greenmarket, located at the corner of 95th Street and 3rd Avenue. Buffalo meat, cheese and yogurt is for sale, as well as vegetables, fruits, flowers, seafood, baked goods, chicken and eggs. Local artists show and sell their work along the site's fence, and there's usually live entertainment for shoppers as well! Come check out Bay Ridge's new town square! 
    

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!

Please sign the following petition to show your support for the continued funding of public libraries and the maintenance of all their services. You can also write directly to Mayor Bloomberg to voice your opposition to the proposed $46.5 million in cuts to libraries. 

Send written letters to:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Or sign our petition online below:

New York City’s public library systems are facing a total of $46.5 million in budget cuts in the coming fiscal year. Less money going into our libraries means fewer services than ever before, and that downgrade couldn’t come at a worse time.

With a New York City unemployment rate in excess of 8 percent, more people than ever before are turning to libraries to make use of their job-hunting resources and to improve their professional skills. Families are looking at libraries’ vast book, DVD and video collections as affordable entertainment alternatives. Libraries in many ways provide a foundation for community organizing – residents use their local branch’s public space as a way to connect with their neighbors, form groups and discuss issues facing the City and their community so that they can effect positive and long-lasting change.

I believe that now – in the darkness of a recession – is not the time to cut the cornerstone of local communities and neighborhoods. Stand with me, Chair of the Libraries Subcommittee, to stand up for libraries. In doing so you are standing up for literacy, community activism, employment and knowledge.

By signing the petition, you are letting Mayor Bloomberg and my colleagues on the New York City Council know that local libraries are worth fighting for and that cuts to library services and hours of operation will not be accepted by New York City residents.