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Tony Perez Cassino

Leadership for a change

The need for new leadership in the New York City Council has never been more obvious. With an economic crisis threatening so many aspects of our daily lives, our elected officials need to focus all of their attention on improving our economy, schools, health care, senior services, public transportation, parks and quality of life. Instead, the Council is often more fixated on matters of self-interest such as the extension of term limits or directing taxpayer dollars to politically connected programs. With so much at stake, we need innovative leaders to enter government service with the ability to make tough choices that reflect our interests and concerns. That's the kind of character and leadership Tony will provide if he has the honor of serving you as the Councilman for the 11th District in the Northwest Bronx. In his 15-year career as a public interest lawyer and community activist, Tony has developed an extensive record of accomplishments along with a reputation for building coalitions and standing up to special interests and political bosses. Tony will fight for the needs of all of our neighborhoods, and is the one candidate with the leadership and real-world experience to bring about the change we need in the New York City Council.

Tony has unmatched experience in the community, including service as Chairman of Bronx Community Board 8 from 2004-2008; membership on the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Task Force; Board Chairman of the Riverdale Nursery School & Family Center; and the founder of two organizations -- the Coalition of Riverdale/Kingsbridge Schools (CORKS) and the Northwest Bronx Democratic Alliance (NBDA). In his day job, Tony oversees the pro bono activities at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. He previously served as the Director of Pro Bono Services for the New York State Bar Association and as an Aide and Counsel to Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Over the years, Tony has shown bold independence on important issues by standing up to special interests. In 2001, he founded the Northwest Bronx Democratic Alliance (NBDA) to get more people involved in the political process. Since then, the NBDA has supported strong leaders like Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, NY Senate Minority Leader Jeffrey Klein, and, in 2005, the NBDA was the first Democratic political club to endorse Mayor Bloomberg for re-election. And, to address the scandal over pork-barrel spending in the City Council, he authored one of the toughest reform-spending plans.

During his nearly five years as Community Board Chairman, Tony has been involved in virtually every major issue facing our neighborhoods:

FIGHTING OVER-DEVELOPMENT -- Tony was instrumental in enacting a set of zoning changes to protect large parts of Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights and Riverdale from over-development......read more
SUPPORTING EDUCATION -- Tony created the Coalition of Riverdale/Kingsbridge Schools, which enables more than a dozen local public and private schools to share resources and enrich their classroom and after-school environments......read more
IMPROVING PARKING -- Tony led a special committee that produced a plan recently approved by the City to cut alternate-side parking from four days a week to two......read more
PROTECTING NATURE -- He was a leader in the revision of the Special Natural Area District rules that protect natural features in Riverdale's greenbelt......read more
PRESERVING LANDMARKS -- He was an outspoken advocate for the creation of the Fieldston Historic District......read more
SCHOOL SAFETY -- He worked closely with many local schools to address traffic-safety around their buildings, and helped create a one-way street in front of P.S. 24......read more
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- Tony has been a leader in the effort to create a large-scale commercial hub at the site of a municipal parking lot at 230th St. and Broadway, and served on the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Task Force......read more
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION -- As a member of the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee, Tony advocated for Bronx jobs, better air quality, and financial accountability at the massive water-filtration plant being built in Van Cortlandt Park......read more
FIGHTING CORRUPTION -- In response to the scandal over pork-barrel spending in the City Council, Tony authored one of the toughest reform-spending plans. His plan calls for stringent reforms to stop the distribution of taxpayer dollars based on political loyalty to the Council Speaker, and it would eliminate conflicts of interest by lawmakers in their spending allocations. ......read more
BUILDING PARKS -- Tony has been a strong advocate for the renovation of the ball fields at Seton and Vinmont Parks, and supported the creation of a waterfront park along the Hudson at 254th Street......read more

There has never been a more important time to elect accomplished leaders who have both the experience to make the right decisions and the independence to carry them out. Tony is the type of leader our community needs and deserves.