Avella Continues His Crusading Ways

Queens City Councilman Tony Avella has turned himself into a serious Citywide player and a candidate for mayor in 2009 by bucking the system at every turn. First he refused his pay raise and chastised his colleagues for even accepting one in the first place.

Tomorrow, Avella will continue his fight for more openness in the City Council by introducing a number of measures reforming City government by eliminating committee chairmanship stipends known as "lulus," shifting power to bring laws up for a vote away from the Speaker and to the members and ban outside employment for City Council members. Avella will even bring forth a measure to force City Council meetings to start on time.

“It may seem like a small thing to some people, but having the City Council meetings start on time is important to many Council Members, staff and guests who show up at the proper time only to wait around for extended periods and often for no good reason," said Avella. Having attended a few City Council hearings, those reasons typically include posing for pictures and glad-handing colleagues.