LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Peter F. Vallone, Sr. for his commitment
to preserving Italian American heritage

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those individ-
uals who foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural diver-
sity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Peter F. Vallone, Sr. for his commitment to preserving Italian American
heritage; and
WHEREAS, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. served as Speaker and Majority Leader
of the New York City Council from 1986 through 2001 and represented the
22nd Counclimanic District in Astoria, Queens since 1974; and
WHEREAS, He strongly advocates fiscal responsibility, passing 11
consecutive balanced budgets on time; furthermore, he championed the
Safe Streets/Safe City program which virtually restored the city's crim-
inal justice system, rebuilding the police force from a low of 26,000 in
1989 to 41,000 in 2001, resulting in the lowest crime rate since the
1960s and the safest big city in the country; and
WHEREAS, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. created a reserve fund and increased
funding to parks, libraries, cultural institutions, health care and
youth programs; in 1996, he allocated the funds necessary for school
construction and textbook replacement to ease overcrowding, replace coal
burning furnaces and update textbooks from the 1950s and 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. has been a champion of the environment
and quality of life legislation; he gave New York its first modem recy-
cling programs, led the fight to ban pornographic book and video stores
from residential areas, and protected New Yorkers from second-hand
smoke; and
WHEREAS, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. strongly advocates on behalf of women's
health issues by increasing funding for breast, ovarian, and lung cancer
research and treatment facilities; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Queens, Peter F. Vallone, Sr.'s moth-
er, Leah, was a State Committeewoman and his father, Charles, was a
Civil Court Judge and Civil Rights Advocate; and
WHEREAS, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. graduated from Power Memorial Academy
in 1952, and from Fordham College of Arts and Science; he then earned
his J.D. from Fordham Law School where he received the prestigious Fran-
cis Bacon Award for excellence upon graduation; and
WHEREAS, At Fordham, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. became a member of The
Sodality and has kept his pledge of daily Mass and Communion ever since;
and
WHEREAS, He is also an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and Lector;
in 2002, he rejoined the law firm of Vallone & Vallone, founded by his
father, the late Judge Charles J. Vallone, after whom the new Civil
Courthouse in Queens was named; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. is a member of the Govern-
mental Consulting firm of Constantinople & Vallone, and serves on the
Mayor's Election Modernization Task Force; and
WHEREAS, He served as Professor of Politics and Principles of Govern-
ment at Fordham University and lectures at the Peter F. Vallone Lecture-
ship Government Series of televised public lectures at Baruch College's
School of Public Affairs, and authored LEARNING TO GOVERN: MY LIFE IN
NEW YORK POLITICS, FROM HELLGATE TO CITY HALL, Chaucer Press (2005), and
GOD CAME HOME WITH ME, RETREAT REFLECTIONS, Passionist Press (2008); and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Tena, and their three
sons, Peter Jr., Perry and Paul, as well as his eight grandchildren, all
of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Peter F. Vallone, Sr. for his commitment to preserving Italian
American heritage; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Peter F. Vallone, Sr.