Vallone Tops Council Colleagues In Introducing Bills
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Among the 51 members of the New York City Council, whose job it is to pass the laws that control the conduct of the city's residents and improve their quality of life, the most prolific sponsor of proposed laws in the 2006 session is Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., according to an analysis done by the Citizens Union government watchdog organization.

In an article in the October issue of the Gotham Gazette, the organization's monthly publication, Vallone (D- Astoria) led his colleagues by introducing 54 bills in the 21-month period from January 2006 to Sept. 10, 2007. Of those, 14 were passed by the Council.

Two other Queens councilmembers, David Weprin (D- Hollis) and James Gennaro (D- Fresh Meadows) followed Vallone in the listing of the top 10 bill sponsors.

Another Queens councilmember in the top 10 was Tony Avella (D- Bayside).

Weprin, chairman of the Finance Committee, introduced 48 bills and 20 were passed, the second highest in the top 10 listing.

Gennaro, chair of the Environmental Protection Committee, had 47 bills introduced and 13 passed; Avella had 39 introductions, of which four passed.

The highest number of passed bills (28) was achieved by Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who introduced 37 measures. Quinn has an advantage over her colleagues because as Speaker and leader of the legislative body, her name goes on the most important bills introduced and supported by the Democratic majority.

In the article, written by Courtney Gross, Vallone states that getting legislation to the council floor is a combination of good ideas, being aggressive in explaining a bill's values and cooperating with other members.

He also stated, "I think a lot of it has to do with the merit of the laws that are introduced."

This would explain why many of Vallone's bills get passed. Many of his proposals and approved bills deal with public safety issues, attempts to restrict graffiti, helping to develop anti-terror defenses and school safety issues. His position as Public Safety Committee chairman helps to move his legislation along, as does Weprin's position in his case.

Part of the advantage of being Finance chairman is that in many cases, Weprin has become the man the Bloomberg administration goes to, and asks to introduce the mayor's legislative proposals.

In the 21 months covered by the Gotham Gazette analysis, the mayor requested that Weprin present 11 out of his 48 introductions.

Vallone and Weprin also benefit from a favorable relationship with Quinn, since the Speaker controls the flow of legislation and she also controls the activities of the heavy (47- 4) Democratic majority, which provides the votes to get bills passed.

But the reverse is also true. A councilmember sometimes disagrees with the Speaker's position on an important bill, as Avella has done on occasion.

Avella explains in the article, "There are members of the City Council that fall in line [behind Speaker Quinn] no matter what. If you're independent and you speak your mind [as Avella is and does] you get punished."

The Bayside lawmaker cites as an example his bill that would have required the replacement of damaged "STOP" signs within 48 hours. He says Quinn blocked the bill, though it eventually passed with Councilmember Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D- Ozone Park) as sponsor.