REMARKS
James Gennaro reflects on Peter Vallone Sr.
1:03:36
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124 sec
Council Member James Gennaro honors Peter Vallone Senior for his pivotal role in changing New York City's governance through a historic legal challenge.
- Gennaro highlights the significance of the Board of Estimate and how it once governed NYC's budget, land use, contracts, and more.
- Malone Senior's belief in the unconstitutionality of the Board of Estimate led to a Supreme Court case, resulting in a 9-0 vote deeming it unconstitutional.
- This landmark case precipitated the NYC charter revision, expanding the City Council from 35 to 51 seats to increase inclusivity.
- Malone Senior became the first speaker of the restructured council, marking a significant shift in NYC's governance history.
- Gennaro shares a personal anecdote about Malone Senior, reflecting on his enduring legacy and their personal connection.
James Gennaro
1:03:36
Thank you.
1:03:37
I'm standing again, so look out.
1:03:41
I I I think this is as good a time as any to let members who may not know what what Like, what this body and what the city owes to Peter Malone Senior.
1:03:54
Once upon a time, the council used to have kind of like an older brother, so to speak, called the Board of S estimate.
1:04:00
Has anyone ever heard of the board of estimate?
1:04:03
Yes.
1:04:03
Well, you know, the board of estimate was composed of the mayor, the controller, and what was then called the city council president and and the bar presidents.
1:04:13
Bar presidents had one vote or the city whites had had had had had 2 votes.
1:04:18
And they controlled the board of investment.
1:04:20
The the city budget, land use, contracts, franchises, water rates.
1:04:25
It was and and, you know, no one knows this better than Gale.
1:04:29
And and this was this was and and Peter's senior believe that that body was unconstitutional because you had the the bar president of Brooklyn having the same voting strength as the as the bar president of sat down and made a federal case of it, went all the way to the Supreme Court in March of 1989, The way the city governs itself was struck down as unconstitutional by a 9 to 0 vote, which created the the New York City charter revision to me.
1:05:01
We had to admit the new way to govern ourselves.
1:05:04
And during that process, the council went from 35 seats to 51 to make it more inclusive of racial, ethnic, and language minorities that all the powers, just about all of them, that we're on the board of estimate we got.
1:05:18
And so this is something that, you know, Peter Malone, you know, did for the city, and he became the 1st speaker.
1:05:25
Until then, the legislative later was known as the vice chairman.
1:05:29
I don't know why they called the vice chairman, but this is what it was.
1:05:32
And one of the most enduring things about Peter Bollinger is the only he's the only person on earth who still calls me kid, and I really appreciate that.