The firebrand councilmember will face off with Avella again on Nov. 7 Paladino makes her re-election pitch

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Heading into Election Day on Nov. 7, when she will square off once again with former Democratic Councilman and state Sen. Tony Avella, it seems Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone) is not unaware of her reputation.

“I move and shake things up a bit,” she said with a chuckle during an extensive interview with the Chronicle.

She later described herself as “a fighter” who takes “no nonsense.”

While one might think those qualities are key to her approach in the Council — especially being one of six Republicans in the chamber and one of eight members of the Common Sense Caucus, which includes Councilmen Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) and Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn) on top of the minority party members — Paladino said it’s all about “negotiating and talking” with her peers.

Paladino said that was how she ensured the migrant respite center at the former St. Agnes Academic High School in College Point closed two weeks ahead of schedule, even as the Chronicle previously reported that members of her staff said the FDNY shut it down because it did not have sprinklers, which are required in emergency shelters by law. Though she acknowledged there were issues that the Fire Department needed to attend to, she was adamant that she moved along the closure.

As of Oct. 15, the building is back under the control of the School Construction Authority, Paladino said. The conversion into a 659-seat public high school is slated for early 2026, but Paladino estimated it will be more like late 2026, given the building’s use as a respite center for more than two months.

Paladino touted her allocating $8 million for Council District 19 schools while in office, and added that she has pushed for area parks to be updated. She pointed to Bowne Park, which had been under construction for the better part of a decade, as an example; the park was completed earlier this year.

Though she acknowledged that climate change is an issue when asked, Paladino was adamant that she will continue to fight against Local Law 97, which aims to lower the city’s greenhouse gas emissions through capping emissions in buildings that are 25,000 square feet or more. That could be achieved through upgrades to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, among other renovations. The law, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024, has been criticized by condo owners and co-op shareholders in particular, as they would bear the cost of the upgrades or fines for noncompliance.

Paladino introduced legislation to delay the onset of the law by seven years earlier this year, arguing that many of the details — such as the capacity of the city’s electrical grid — have yet to be considered. “Local Law 97 is a form of dictatorship,” she told the Chronicle.

She also has signed on to a bill by Councilmember Linda Lee (D-Oakland Gardens) that calls for open and green space on co-op and condo property to be incorporated as part of calculating co-ops, condos and garden apartments’ emissions. Asked why, she said she’ll do “anything” to “benefit co-op and condo owners.”

Paladino portrays herself as being tough-oncrime and fighting for law and order. She touted that she helped get 50 additional cops into the 109th Precinct on weekends, for example.

To that effect, she has voiced support for creating another precinct within the boundaries of the 109th Precinct, which many say is too geographically large, slowing response times.

Recently, Community Board 7 has said it will push for a new precinct using its approval for the proposed New York City Football Club stadium at Willets Point as a bargaining chip when it comes to the board as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure in the near future, even as the site falls in the 110th. As part of the second phase of the Willets Point Redevelopment Project, the development would also include 1,400 additional units of affordable housing. While Paladino was sympathetic to the concern that neighboring precincts might see an uptick in crime with the addition of another sports arena, she said the trade was a long shot.

“There’s no boundaries for crime. So for them to say they know what’s going to happen, you don’t need a crystal ball,” Paladino said. Referring to CB 7’s first vice chair, Chuck Apelian, she continued, “I do understand Chuck and I do understand CB 7. Is it going to happen? I highly doubt it.”

Asked if she supports having a soccer stadium at Willets Point, Paladino took a long pause before saying, “I would rather a football stadium.”

Avella lost to Paladino in the 2021 race for the same seat, earning just 358 votes fewer. But after focusing on beating Paladino come November throughout his primary race this spring, Avella won the Democratic contest on the second round of ranked-choice voting by just 124 ballots more than former Assistant Dis-

HB’s 37th annual Halloween parade

The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach is hosting its 37th annual Halloween parade on Saturday, Oct. 28, organized by Steven Sirgiovanni and PJ Marcel.

The festivities will start with a lineup at 10:30 a.m. by the Speedway gas station on Cross Bay Blvd. and 159th Avenue.

The parade will begin at approximately 11 a.m., ending at Cross Bay and 165th Avenue.

The event will also have hot dogs, pizza, soft drinks, game trucks and rides. For more information, contact the Kiwanis Club at howardbeachkiwanis.org/contact. Q trict Attorney Christopher Bae. Paladino did not have a Republican primary challenger. Meanwhile, the district has voted increasingly for Republicans in recent elections, such as for embattled Rep. George Santos (R-Nassau, Queens) just last year. Though previously, Paladino had condemned Santos — whom she supported throughout his bid for the U.S. House — and did not say he should resign, she said her view has changed as time has gone on and in light of his indictment. “It’s time for him to do the right thing [which] is walk away,” she said. Asked how she has made sure Santos has not impacted voters’ trust in her and her party, she said, “I don’t base myself on anybody else. People know who Vickie is ... and there’s no comparison.”

She noted that her opponent does make that comparison. “He’d like to build his campaign on a Santos-Paladino bullshit thing. And I’ll tell you straight up. Tony has no record to stand on whatsoever. I accomplished more in my two years than Tony could ever accomplish.”

When the Chronicle noted that Avella was lead plaintiff in the state Court of Appeals case to halt a shopping mall from being built next to Citi Field, as the parking lot is legally considered parkland, Paladino said, “If that’s what he did, good for him.”

She added, “And you know what? Is it over? No, it’s just getting started again. Lead plaintiff? He’s as weak as they come. Make me lead plaintiff. You’d see things change.”

Indeed, the issue is on the table again as Mets owner Steve Cohen is pushing to build a casino and other amenities on the same site. Asked if she supports a casino, Paladino said she is not in favor, citing concerns of increased crime. Q