NY Observer > Tony Avella

Bloomberg: No Checks Until June, In Any Case

Azi Paybarah — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:54:16 -0500

When asked about the legality of rescinding the $400 rebate check to homeowners, Michael Bloomberg said this morning, “There’s a judge that’s going to decide that, but in any case, it doesn’t have to go out right now.” read more »

Avella on Having Bloomberg to Himself in 2009

Azi Paybarah — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:28:13 -0500

Democratic City Councilman Tony Avella of Queens doesn’t think he’ll have a primary when he runs for mayor next year.

“I’m not so sure the other two actually run,” said Avella, referring to his known rivals, City Comptroller Bill Thompson and Representative Anthony Weiner. read more »

Vacca, Gerson Say Yes to Extending Term Limits, Avella Laments

Azi Paybarah — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:02:57 -0400

Now that an amendment to create a charter revision commission has been defeated and the moment to vote is near, some undecided Council members are announcing how they will vote on extending term limits.

Alan Gerson, who was one of the members behind the amendment, said, “New Yorkers deserve to have a debate about continuity.” He added that he feels he has to vote yes. read more »

No Place for a Horse-Carriage Driver

Lydia DePillis — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:30:23 -0400

In a small theater on East Third St. at around 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 26, you wouldn’t have wanted to be a carriage-horse driver.

It was a benefit screening of Blinders: The Truth Behind the Tradition, which documents the alleged abuses of the horses that ferry tourists around Central Park in hansom cabs. Before the film had even started, organizers ejected a driver for threatening to disrupt the event, and a sympathizer was thrown out when he showed his pro-carriage colors during the question-and-answer session afterward.

But you wouldn’t have minded being city councilman and long-shot mayoral candidate Tony Avella, who has been making political hay out of the issue ever since the untimely death of Spotty the horse in 2006. read more »

Anti-Gehry, Pro-Avella

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:42:04 -0400

Longshot mayoral candidate Tony Avella has the support of at least one group.

A reader sent in this photo from Carleton and Dean Streets in Prospect Heights.

Who's Mr. Anti-Term Limits Extension?

Azi Paybarah — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:20:45 -0400

Tony Avella got some major coverage today for sponsoring a bill to block the City Council from extending term limits legislatively.

He's not the only one. David Weprin has also asked that bill drafters in the Council write up a bill opposing the possible extension, his office said.

Also, Weprin is organizing a press conference for this Sunday at noon on the City Hall steps about his own bill. Expected to attend the event are groups like Citizens Union and New Yorkers for Term Limits--Ron Lauder’s group.

UPDATE: According to this document, Weprin's request to draft a bill on this issue was made on September 5.

Morning Memo: Michelle Williams Hearts Spike Jonze; Sean Avery's Dating Up; Katie Holmes in NYC

Irina Aleksander — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:08:48 -0400

Courtenay Semel (daughter of former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel) and heiress Casey Johnson are no longer an item after Ms. Semel spent an evening partying with Tila Tequila, Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson. [P6]

Michelle Williams is reportedly officially dating her close friend director Spike Jonze, who was previously married to Sofia Coppola. [Daily Mail]

Vogue intern and New York Ranger Sean Avery, 28, is dating 51-year-old Kelly Klein, ex-wife of Calvin. [P6] read more »

Horse-Drawn Carriage Supporters Question the Flowers Pam Anderson Gave Tony Avella

Azi Paybarah — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:19:09 -0400

A trade group that Tony Avella has been critical of is asking the city Conflict of Interest Board to look into whether the flowers Avella received from Pamela Anderson (and “all your pals at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)!”) violated the city ban on gifts to lawmakers.

A lawyer for the Horse & Carriage Association of New York sent the letter today asking the C.O.I.B. to look into the matter. (Avella wants to pass a ban on horse-drawn carriages.)

The letter, forwarded to reporters by the group’s spokeswoman, says:

On Tuesday, July 29, Mr. Avella accepted and publicized a bouquet of yellow roses presented to him in his Council District Office from the animal activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (aka PETA). read more »

DFNYC Puts 'No-Brainer' Support For Obama on Display

Em Whitney — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:22:45 -0400

Democracy for New York City's Fourth Annual "Summer Cocktail Reception" was all about Barack Obama.

Held at the downtown bar M1-5, the event's theme was "Unity '08," a reference, apparently, to bringing Democrats together (and not to the group that wanted Michael Bloomberg to run for president).

As the guests trickled in, DFNYC finance director Lewis Cohen decorated the bar with "Obama '08" signs.

"I have no doubt we will endorse," he told me.

"I think people are looking at the total candidate," said City Councilman Tony Avella, also a long-shot mayoral candidate. "He [Obama] stands for change, and we need change in the city. read more »

Waiting on the Budget

Azi Paybarah — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:00:15 -0400

The City Council’s budget negotiating team stayed late last night at City Hall, trying to hammer out a budget before the June 30 deadline. A handshake agreement is expected today or tomorrow.

In the meantime, it's a scene. Lobbyists have been a permanent fixture on the City Hall steps and in the City Hall rotunda for days, if not weeks, hounding lawmakers, staffers, and even reporters for any information.

Yesteday afternoon, I bumped into City Councilman Tony Avella across the street from City Hall. When I asked about the budget, he threw up his hands up--it seems he's waiting for information, just like the rest of us. read more »