By Colin Campbell and Jill Colvin 5/07 7:56pm

ch-ch-changes

Christine Quinn. (Photo: Getty)

The Unmighty Quinn: City Council Members Sense New Opportunities in Mayoral Politics

Bronx City Councilman Fernando Cabrera was ready to defy established order.

He sensed that Speaker Christine Quinn was losing her grip on the legislative body.

“I’m scared,” he told Politicker at the time. He kept the petitions he gathered at home–just to be safe.

Mr. Cabrera, a pastor, quietly went from colleague to colleague to rally support for two bills that the speaker had stalled, one that would let churches rent school property and another codifying a Tenants’ Bill of Rights. He said he gathered the dozen signatures necessary to give him the power to force a vote—a tactic, called a motion to discharge, that has not been deployed during Ms. Quinn’s tenure. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/19 7:30pm

The Vallone Zone

vallone

Vallone Ranger: Harley-Riding Political Scion Vies to Be Queens’ Rebel-in-Chief

“Queens is discriminated against on an almost daily basis,” Councilman Peter Vallone told Politicker last week at Dark Horse, a restaurant near his City Council office.

“Things happen to Queens that would never happen to another borough,” he said, sipping a Stella Artois and taking bites of blackened salmon. “They’d never rename the Brooklyn Bridge. They’d never rename the Manhattan Bridge. Queensboro Bridge is renamed, nobody says a peep. Nobody makes a peep other than me.”

Mr. Vallone, a candidate for borough president, complains that Queens “hasn’t had a bully in the pulpit,” and he would like to change that. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/11 8:44pm

Vallone Zone

Congressman Crowley addresses the crowd.

Peter Vallone Vows to Continue Voicing Loud Viewpoints as Queens B.P.

Earlier this evening, outspoken Councilman Peter Vallone officially launched his campaign for campaign for Queens Borough President. And, standing before an incredibly packed Greek restaurant in Astoria, both Mr. Vallone and his supporters made sure everyone was fully aware of the self-described conservative Democrat’s independent streak.

“He was able to stand up to the Speaker when she was trying to bully him,” said Norman Seabrook, the President of the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association who officially endorsed Mr. Vallone today. “Can you imagine what he would do as borough president when given the opportunity to step forward, not only for the people in this room, but this borough? He is truly a man indicative of being able to become one of the greatest of all time.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/18 4:45pm

Vallone Zone

(Photo: Getty)

City Councilman Stands Up for Manti Te’o

Notre Dame University’s star linebacker Manti Te’o, has been the subject of nonstop controversy since Deadspin revealed his story of personal tragedy–namely his girlfriend’s death–had been nothing more than a prominent hoax.

In the storm of news coverage discussing Mr. Te’o's non-girlfriend, many have argued the football player promulgated the lie, but outspoken Queens Councilman Peter Vallone has come to Mr. Te’os defense. Read More

By Ross Barkan 12/10/12 2:59pm

The Vallone Zone

Peter Vallone Jr.

Peter Vallone to Officially Announce Queens BP Bid

Queens Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. will announce his bid for Queens Borough President tomorrow, a Democratic source with knowledge of Mr. Vallone’s plans confirmed. Mr. Vallone will make his announcement at his father’s holiday party in Astoria. Peter Vallone Sr., the former City Council Speaker, is hosting the bash at the restaurant Don Coqui. The invitation noted the event will include “an announcement as to Council Member Vallone’s future political plans at the party, because he wants those closest to know first!” Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/01/12 11:42am

The Vallone Zone

Councilman Peter Vallone's Twitter avatar. (Photo: Twitter)

Peter Vallone: ‘I’m Just Learning the Twitter Thing’

Queens Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. has long maintained a prolific and popular presence on Facebook, but last month, he added Twitter to his social media repertoire. Though Mr. Vallone started sending tweets September 12, New York City politicos somehow didn’t seem to see the account until last week. As soon as we heard the news Mr. Vallone joined Twitter we reached out to discuss his plans for his posts on the site, whether he’ll be maintaining his Facebook page and speculation he may run for Queens Borough President or District Attorney once he’s term-limited out of the Council at the end of next year.

“I’m just learning the Twitter thing. I don’t even know how to respond or anything like that. I’m not sure what happens once I tweet…I don’t know how to check to see if people paid attention to my tweet. I’m just learning this stuff,” said Mr. Vallone. Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/03/12 4:36pm

The Vallone Zone

Peter Vallone Jr.

Peter Vallone Says David Segal Should ‘Beg Forgiveness’ Before Getting His Job Back

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. is not happy that he and controversial Council aide David Segal will be working in the same building again. Mr. Segal is back in the office of Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez after he was initially fired when the news broke that he served time in federal prison for attempting to torch an Army recruitment center in the Bronx in 2005.

“I didn’t think it was possible for this episode to get more embarassing, but it just did,” Mr. Vallone told The Politicker. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/13/12 10:49am

The Vallone Zone

Peter Vallone on his motorcycle. (Photo: Facebook)

Peter Vallone Chases Down Rogue Dirtbiker

Councilman and motorcyclist Peter Vallone doesn’t like when his fellow bikers flout the rules of the road. Mr. Vallone saw a man on a dirtbike riding inside Astoria Park yesterday and he chased the rogue rider down to report him to the police.

“hey guy with the dirtbike, i saw you run it up into astoria park and ran your tail down with my bike and wrote down your license,” Mr. Vallone wrote on his Facebook page last night.  Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/05/12 11:38am

king of queens

Senator Peralta (Photo: Facebook)

Peralta Forms Committee for Possible Queens Borough President Run

This morning, a new campaign committee, “Peralta 2013,” appeared on the Board of Elections website, suggesting State Senator José Peralta is taking yet another step towards his increasingly likely campaign for Queens Borough President next year.

The committee will allow Mr. Peralta to raise money and more forcefully campaign for the race, especially when one potential candidate, Councilman Peter Vallone, already has $1 million in his own campaign war chest. Read More

By David Freedlander 2/28/12 9:12am

Running for What?

Peter Vallone Jr.

Vallone Raises, But Not For BP Run–UPDATE

Astoria Councilman Peter Vallone has long been signalling his intention to run for Queens borough president, which makes the following fundraising invitation, sent along by a Politicker  reader, all the more curious.

In it, a campaign staffer for Mr. Vallone notes his BP campaign fund is almost fully funded, but that “in order to help the Council Member keep his options open, we formed a new state committee to explore a potential run for state or local office.” Read More