TESTIMONY
Michelle Villagomez, Legislative Senior Director, ASPCA on Paul Vallone's Legacy and Advocacy for Animal Welfare
0:19:15
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3 min
Michelle Villagomez testifies on behalf of the ASPCA in support of honoring Paul Vallone with the renaming of the Queens Animal Care Center.
- Villagomez shares her personal connection with Vallone, emphasizing his compassionate nature and dedication to animal and community welfare.
- She recounts the Vallone family's long-standing commitment to animal welfare, including legislation and volunteer efforts.
- The testimony highlights the multi-faceted role of animal shelters as community resources, beyond merely housing stray pets.
- Villagomez urges the committee and council to support the renaming initiative, underscoring the importance of continuing Vallone's legacy of compassion and service.
- The initiative aims to serve as a reminder of the profound connection between human and animal welfare and to inspire future generations.
Michelle Villagomez
0:19:15
Thank you so much for letting me have the opportunity to say something.
0:19:19
I'm gonna go off script for a second.
0:19:21
I was looking at the hearing transcripts to see what Paul said, and and he was an ally of the ASPCA.
0:19:28
Going back generations back to his mother and just how special a person he was in his remarks when this bill passed committee, he remembered that I just had a baby.
0:19:39
And in there, it was saying, calling out my son Mateo by name, saying, There's a new advocate for animals.
0:19:46
I hope the shelters are open before Matteo starts school.
0:19:50
That being said, Matteo is in 1st grade, and we're very cited that this year, we're going to see the queen's animal care center open in Paul's name.
0:20:00
And that was just sort of like a little detail that he just remembered that we were all sort of a human being, sort of advocating for good things, and and he was just such a special person.
0:20:11
That sort of got to be what I was looking at and seeing that he remembered my son and then had a whole conversation with me about it.
0:20:19
So good morning.
0:20:20
I'm Michelle Villegomez.
0:20:21
I'm the legislative senior director for the ASPCA.
0:20:24
I want to thank everyone, Chairman, Schulman, speaker Adams, I'm really honored to provide testimony in support of this legislation.
0:20:34
Paul was a wonderful lie in our work, and I really genuinely collaborate enjoyed collaborating with him.
0:20:40
I'm a resident of Queen's lifelong, and now I live in What was his district?
0:20:46
I believe that this renaming would be a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated himself to the well-being of both animals and the communities he served.
0:20:56
As as Peter Malone just said, the commitment runs for a very long sort of lineage in the Valone family.
0:21:04
It was a personal passion, but a continuation of his family's legacy.
0:21:08
The Valone family has long been synonymous with advocating for the welfare of animals in New York City.
0:21:14
Council member of Valone his father's speaker, Peter Malone played a pivotal role in passing legislation in 2000.
0:21:22
His mother, Tina Malone, demonstrated unwavering dedication as a volunteer in various animal welfare initiatives throughout his year throughout the years.
0:21:31
And council member Peter Malone was a staunch advocate against animal cruelty.
0:21:36
And Paul carried this torch forward with great fervor.
0:21:40
When he championed this legislation to ensure that all boroughs have access to full service animal shelters, he did it in recognition that shelters are not merely facilities for housing stray pets, but vital community resources offering a wide array of services, including surrender prevention, food assistance, medical care, humane education and adoption programs.
0:22:01
He understood that by supporting animal welfare, we also support the well-being of our communities.
0:22:06
His vision for the queen's animal care center was one of inclusivity and compassion where both animals and people could find the assistance and resources that they needed.
0:22:15
Renaming the center in his honor would not only commemorate his dedication and hard work, but also serve as a reminder of the profound connection between human and animal welfare.
0:22:26
Every time I met with him, he always asked one question, what can we do with the kids in my district?
0:22:31
And it was like, what can we do?
0:22:33
Bring it to option vehicles?
0:22:34
Can we do some human education?
0:22:36
How can we spread the word about the human animal bond?
0:22:40
We'd love to see that the new facility under its new name is gonna serve as a lasting reminder of Paul's legacy of empathy, kindness, and commitment to making our world a better place.
0:22:53
In conclusion, I urge the committee and the council to support this initiative, which I I see that you are, and ensure that the legacy continues to inspire and uplift us all.
0:23:03
We have to continue to invest in advancing the services provided by animal care centers throughout the city of New York, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPASSIONATE SPIRIT LIVES ON.
0:23:13
THANK YOU.
