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 (www.vincentgentile.blogspot.com ) 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

Councilman Gentile's staff assists in creating and researching legislation, communicating with the public and helping constituents with issues ranging from transportation to social services to safety.

Feel free to 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.

• K.C. Boyle, Chief of Staff
  
  
• Dena Libner, Director of Communications
  
  
•  Michael Sciaraffo, Legislative Director
  
  
• Brian Gutman, Legislative and Policy Advisor
  
  
•  Michael Jon Fieni, Policy Advisor
  
  
•  Rocco Buonpane, Scheduler and Event Coordinator
  
  
• Stephanie Giovinco, Constituent Liaison
  
  
•   Thomas Lopinto, 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 introduced and oversaw the successful passage of City Council legislation that improved and safeguarded the lives of thousands of New York City residents. Most recently, he saw the passage of bills he introduced seeking to:

• Give communities Department of Transportation notification before any new pilot programs are implemented on their streets to avoid residents being surprised by (and ticketed as a result of violating) new rules of the road.   
  
• Give communities Department of Transportation notification of changes in parking meter rates and types.
  
• Require the Department of Education to protect disabled students placed in out-of-state educational facilities by reviewing and compiling information on the facilities and making that information available to the City Council and students' parents.
  
• Mandate the regular testing of large buildings' sprinkler systems and standpipes to ensure that, in case of a fire, firefighters will have access to water on buildings' highest floors.

For more information on these bills, please click on the bill description. Alternatively, you can call Councilman Gentile's legislative director, Michael Sciaraffo, at (212) 788-7363.

Councilman Gentile to Hold "Don't Leave Us Out in the Cold" Rally to Protest MTA Cuts to Local Bus Routes (01.05.10)

Councilman Gentile Applauds the Passage of Five Local Street Renamings (12.22.09)

Councilman Gentile Lambasts Proposes MTA Cuts; Calls on Mayor, Albany to Re-Institute Commuter Tax (12.18.09)

Councilman Gentile Calls on City to Establish Emergency Fire Number (12.10.09)

Councilman Gentile's "Heads Up!" Bill Signed into Law by Mayor (12.08.09)

Councilman Gentile's Billy's Law Signed into Law by Mayor (10.28.09)

Councilman Gentile Announces an Eco Dock is Coming to Bay Ridge! (10.20.09)

Councilman Gentile's Billy's Law Passed by the New York City Council; Will Protect Special Needs Students at Out-of-State Educational Facilities (10.14.09)

Councilman Gentile Introduces Bill to Guarantee Oversight of Cell Antenna Emissions (10.1.09)

Remarks by Councilman Gentile on Street Renaming in Honor of Bob Buonvino (9.29.09)

Councilman Gentile Introduces Bills to Give Neighborhoods Parking Oversight (9.17.09)

Councilman Gentile Introduces Bill to Protect Firefighters (9.17.09)

Councilman Gentile Announces Expanded Library Service at McKinley Park Branch (9.8.09)

Councilman Gentile Kicks Off Two New Parks Projects in a Day (7.10.09)

Councilman Gentile Applauds Restoration of Funding to Public Libraries (6.16.09)

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)

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• "Don't Leave Us Out in the Cold" Petitions to Oppose MTA Cuts to Local Bus Routes. Click on the link, download a petition, and get your friends, co-workers, neighbors and family members to sign! Mail completed, original petitions to my district office, and we'll make sure they all get to the MTA.

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!