In November 2009, Council Member James F. Gennaro was re-elected to a third term as the representative for the 24th Council District located in Queens.

Since taking office in January of 2002, Gennaro has established himself as one of the New York City Council's most thoughtful and effective legislators, bringing over twenty years of public service and city government experience to the job.

Gennaro has received numerous accolades for his work as Chairman of the Council's Committee on Environmental Protection, and has authored many of the Council's most progressive environmental bills. Gennaro has spearheaded efforts to cut the city's global warming pollution emissions, protect and restore Jamaica Bay, put more "clean air" vehicles on city streets, reduce pesticide use, make the city's electricity more reliable, clean, and affordable, protect the city's remaining natural areas, and promote "green buildings". He has also led the fight against unjust increases in water and sewer rates. In addition to his environmental work, Gennaro has authored legislation that protects consumers against unscrupulous bankruptcy counselors, and improve workplace health and safety conditions for City workers.

Gennaro has always been a relentless advocate for the 24th Council District. He has funded a major capital project in every public school in his district and delivered over a million dollars for computers and technology in 2006 alone. In addition, he has funded over 100 youth, senior and other community-based programs and initiatives. Most of all, he takes pride in being "one-stop shopping" for the thousands of constituents from every corner of the district who come to his office for help.

Before being elected to the Council, Gennaro served as a Senior Policy Advisor to former New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr. and as an adjunct professor of political science and environmental public policy at Queens College. He also served as President of the Jamaica Estates Association and as a member of Queens Community Board 8.

Gennaro and his wife, Joanne, have two children and live in Jamaica Estates.

Councilman James F. Gennaro was interviewed by legendary journalist Dan Rather about protecting New York City's water supply from the dangers of natural gas drilling. The interview will air on “Dan Rather Reports” in January on HD Net. On November 16, 2009, the Council passed Resolution 1850-A which calls on the state to ban the drilling for natural gas within the New York City watershed.  The resolution also calls on the federal government to regulate the practice of hydraulic fracturing in order to give greater protection to water supplies everywhere from this process and calls on the State government to take a more proactive stance in protecting water supplies from the impacts of drilling.

Entered City Council: 01/01/2002
Current Term Expires: 12/31/2013

Represents: Briarwood, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Hillcrest Estates, Jamaica Estates, Jamaica Hills, Kew Gardens Hills, Utopia Estates, and parts of Forest Hills, Flushing, Jamaica and Rego Park

Committees: Civil Service & Labor; Consumer Affairs; Environmental Protection, Chair; Public Safety; Sanitation & Solid Waste Management

The ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the New York City watershed represents a reversal of the DEC’s 2009 draft report, which would have permitted drilling in the watershed. The New York City watershed is unique in that it is the largest unfiltered supply of municipal water in the state and deserves special protection. The prior report also would have allowed high-volume hydraulic fracturing in primary drinking water aquifers and in public forests, wildlife areas and parkland throughout the State; the 2011 report reverses all of these recommendations.

“For more than three years, I and the New York City Council have dedicated extraordinary resources to advocate for protecting New York City’s invaluable and irreplaceable drinking water supply watershed from degradation by high-volume hydraulic fracturing. My work on this issue has drawn national attention and has been featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary Gasland and in the national media,” Councilman James F. Gennaro said. “Based on the preliminary documents issued by the DEC, it appears that my advocacy and that of the City Council and others has succeeded.  I am pleased that the State, under Gov. Cuomo’s leadership, will propose to ban hydrofracking within the New York City drinking water supply watershed. This is terrific news. While I believe that it is also imperative that critical water supply infrastructure such as water tunnels and aqueducts that are outside the watershed but which feed New York City be prote cted as well, I would expect these protections to be included in the final regulations. I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and the DEC as this process continues to ensure that critical water supply infrastructure, as well as the watershed, is indeed permanently protected.  I once again thank Gov. Coumo for the new direction he has taken with respect to permanently protecting New York City’s watershed from high-volume hydraulic fracturing.”

Fighting to Prevent Gas Drilling in NYC’s Drinking Water Supply

For  three years, Councilman James Gennaro and other elected officials and environmental advocates have to called upon New Yorkers to prevent natural gas drilling in any part of New York City’s million-acre upstate drinking water supply that provides drinking water for more than nine million New Yorkers.

A recent daily newspaper article called the proposal to drill for gas in New York City’s water supply “the biggest environmental issue almost no one in New York City is paying attention to.”

Natural gas drilling has resulted in contaminated water supplies in other states, including Wyoming and New Mexico. The drilling method used, called hydraulic fracturing, forces millions of gallons of a slurry of water, sand and toxic chemicals through the earth as deep as two miles underground and frequently keeps the resultant wastewater stored in open pits above ground. The lack of regulatory controls to ensure the safety of the process has been decried by numerous environmental groups.

Many advocates argue that the process is not just environmentally disastrous, but also fiscally unsustainable; for example, natural gas drilling in New York City’s drinking water supply poses the threat of forcing the City to build a filtration plant costing taxpayers anywhere from $10 to $20 billion. Even then, many scientists argue that it will be impossible to filter out the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.

Councilman Jim Gennaro and Gasland director Josh Fox discuss the film after a screening held on Dec. 1 at Queens College. About 75 people attended the screening and the discussion was webcast to 24 colleges throughout the country. The movie chronicles the largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history. Aided by an environmentally problematic method of drilling known as “hydraulic fracturing,” vast territories in 34 states could be opened to extensive high-risk drilling. Councilman Gennaro, a national leader in the movement, was featured in the film for calling on the State to ban natural gas drilling within New York City’s drinking water supply watershed. He argues that drilling in the City’s water supply could both contaminate drinking water and cost New York City taxpayers billions of dollars in filtration costs.

In January 2010, for the second time in three years, Gennaro appeared in an award-winning environmental documentary premiering at the renowned Sundance Film Festival.

A Special Jury Prize for Documentary was presented to GASLAND, directed by Josh Fox this week.

“GASLAND has a critically important message that people need to hear – that hydraulic fracturing, the gas drilling technology that is sweeping the nation, is completely unregulated by the federal government and poses unacceptable risks to drinking water supplies throughout the country, especially New York City’s drinking water supply from upstate New York,” Gennaro said in a release. “GASLAND puts this national issue into sharp focus and sears it into the public mind. This will lead, I predict, to the reforms and regulations needed to protect us from environmental catastrophe. I just hope we’re not too late.”

Robert Koehler of Variety wrote that “GASLAND will become to the dangers of gas drilling what ‘Silent Spring’ was to DDT.” And Mickey Rapkin of GQ called Josh Fox “Sundance’s new Erin Brockovich.”
GASLAND made its world premiere on Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

The movie, directed by Josh Fox, chronicles the largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history. Aided by an environmentally problematic method of drilling known as “hydraulic fracturing,” vast territories in 34 states could be opened to extensive high-risk drilling. This includes the Marcellus Shale, a vast geological formation that underlies most of Pennsylvania and New York, including the New York City’s unfiltered drinking water supply watershed.

Councilman Gennaro, a national leader in the movement to reform hydraulic fracturing and regulate it by the USEPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, was featured in the film for calling on the State to ban natural gas drilling within New York City’s drinking water supply watershed. He argues that drilling in the City’s water supply could both contaminate drinking water and cost New York City taxpayers billions of dollars in filtration costs.

In the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Councilman Gennaro was featured in FUEL, a documentary about America’s addiction to oil and the need for new and renewable energy solutions.

Councilman Gennaro is highlighted in a segment of the film showing how government is taking action to promote the use of alternative energy, particularly bioheat. Councilman Gennaro is interviewed about legislation he wrote to require all heating oil used in New York City to be "B-20 bioheat" by the year 2013. B-20 bioheat is a mixture consisting of 80 percent standard heating oil and 20 percent biodiesel, which is made from domestic, sustainable, earth-friendly sources like soy or algae.
FUEL has received a large number of accolades and awards, including winning the Best Documentary Audience Award at Sundance.

Two years ago, the City Council passed a law I wrote – The NYC Climate Protection Act – to mandate that New York City reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030.

On Dec. 9, the City Council passed four more bills that will move our city dramatically closer to fulfilling the vision of that landmark law. These new bills constitute the most progressive and comprehensive legislative package ever proposed by an American city to make its existing buildings more energy efficient.

These bills focus on the energy efficiency of buildings because nearly 80 percent of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants come from the heating, cooling and powering of the one million buildings across our city. And, I’m focusing on existing buildings because the New York City of 2030 will consist predominantly (approximately 85 percent) of buildings that already exist.

In advancing these measures, New York City will be creating a new green industry that will create 19,000 new jobs over a 10 year period and save New Yorkers more than $750 million in annual energy costs.

Years from now, people will look back at this legislative package as the moment when city government, critical stakeholders and concerned citizenry came together to transform our buildings into centers of environmental innovation, showcases of engineering excellence and engines of economic revitalization. These bills are transformative for our environment, a boon to our economy and a beacon to other cities on the journey to environmental sustainability. I am honored to partner Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn in shepherding these bills through the legislative process.

Councilman James F. Gennaro has the distinction of being the most progressive and effective environmental leader to ever hold public office in New York City. As Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, Gennaro's legislative accomplishments have made him a national leader on environmental issues. His accomplishments include:

CLIMATE PROTECTION, SUSTAINABILITY AND AIR QUALITY

WETLANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION

NOISE CONTROL

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE AND SAFETY

BROWNFIELDS 

ENERGY USE AND EFFICIENCY 

Police hope extra lighting around Briarwood Subway station will deter string of recent vandalism
 
Councilman James F. Gennaro announced on June 28 that the NYC Department of Transportation will add additional street lights to parts of Briarwood after several armed-assaults and incidents of cars with slashed tires and broken windows were reported last month around the Briarwood Library.
 
Councilman Gennaro held a meeting with the city’s Department of Transportation to discuss the possibility of placing additional lighting to the areas along the Main Street wall and the Queens Boulevard bridge and subway station construction site, which, according to Captain Michael Coyle, of the 107th Police Precinct, can help lead to a decrease in vandalism. DOT Queens Commissioner Maura McCarthy said the installation will take place during the fourth quarter of 2011.
 
“I am pleased to announce to the residents of Briarwood that additional street lights are headed your way,” Councilman Gennaro said. “I want to thank the DOT, NYPD and the Briarwood Community Association for their cooperation in this matter.”
 
“We are pleased to be working with Councilman Gennaro and the community to improve the neighborhood’s street lighting. We inspected this location and found that additional lighting was needed and have placed this project on our implementation schedule,” Commissioner McCarthy said.
 
“While these acts of vandalism and assaults in our communities are unpredictable and random, the Briarwood Community Association, together with Councilman Gennaro and the 107th Police Precinct are bringing to bear all possible resources and countermeasures to resolve these unacceptable issues,” Briarwood Community Association President Seymour Schwartz said.
 
Councilman Gennaro and Mr. Schwartz said they would appeal to the NYPD about installing surveillance cameras. If funding is too low for the NYPD to install cameras, Mr. Schwartz and Councilman Gennaro said they would speak with the Queens Borough Commander to find another way to possibly fund the installation.
 
We are beefing up our presence during the times which we believe the break-ins are occurring,” Community Affairs Police Officer Tom Motta said.
 
Captain Coyle said the department increased patrol in the area. An undercover detail is now present in the location and bicycle patrolling is currently under review. The vandalism is most likely a sting of random, senseless acts, he said.
 
Captain Coyle reported the 107th will continue to monitor the area and asks residents to report anything they see out of the ordinary in the area by calling community affairs desk at (718) 969-5973. 

Councilman Jim Gennaro uses a high-pressure paint spray gun to remove graffiti from a roll down gate on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica. Graffiti will be removed all year in the 24th District thanks to a budget allocation from the councilman.

Councilman James F. Gennaro removed graffiti in his district with the help of City Solve, a graffiti-removal business. City Solve will continue to clean the 24th District this year thanks to a budget allocation from the councilman.

This year, Councilman Gennaro extended his graffiti zone to include Hillside Avenue. The graffiti was removed at on the corner of 172nd Street and Hillside Avenue in Fresh Meadows. Since 2008, Councilman Gennaro has funded the graffiti removal business in his district.

“Graffiti is a plague on the community and I’m happy to do my part in removing it,” Councilman Gennaro said. “And when the vandals decide to tag again we’ll clean it again – breaking their resolve – each time attacking it as a disease until my district is cured of graffiti.”

The district will receive continued graffiti clean up targeting routinely vandalized areas such as businesses strips, residences and highways throughout Councilman Gennaro’s district.

City Solve’s crew takes only minutes to remove the graffiti from areas with the help of their high-powered spray paint gun.

This service is free to businesses and residents, which otherwise would pay between $500 and $1,000 for a private company.

Councilman Gennaro will remove graffiti based on resident complaints. To make a complaint call the councilman’s district office at (718) 217-4969.

Councilman Jim Gennaro speaks to the graduating class of 2011 at Queens College on June 2. The ceremony was the 87th commencement held at the college.

Councilman Jim Gennaro takes over Ringmaster duties at the Big Apple Circus to welcome students from PS 82 on June 3. The students attended the big top event free of charge thanks to an allocation from the councilman. The Big Apple Circus annually presents an all-new show featuring renowned circus artists from around the world at Cunningham Park in Queens.

Expense Funding FY 2011

The applications and instructions for FY 2011 funding are linked below. Submitting an application does not guarantee a group will be funded.  All groups are subject to the Council's vetting process.

Organization Qualification Form (doc | pdf)
For frequently asked questions, read here.