Senator
Andrew J. Lanza was elected to represent Staten Island’s 24th
New York State Senate District on November 7, 2006. As a former New York
City Council member, prosecutor, accountant and business owner, Senator
Lanza brings extensive public and private experience to the Senate.
Senator Lanza earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Accounting from St. John’s University. In 1992, he received a Juris
Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Senator Lanza and his wife Marcele, a NYC Public
School Teacher, have three children, Olivia, Abigail and Andrew Jack.
They reside in the town of Great Kills.
During his tenure in the City Council, Lanza
established himself as one of Staten Island’s most effective leaders,
standing up for the best interests of the people of Staten Island. He
has led the fight against overdevelopment by autho
ring and enacting tough and comprehensive zoning laws which will prevent
overly dense and out of character construction. These new laws, the most
sweeping in decades, will help to preserve Staten Island’s small town
suburban character, which make it such an attractive place to live and
raise a family.
Lanza has successfully championed for improvements to
Staten Island’s schools, parks and open spaces. He secured millions of
dollars for new classrooms, computer and science labs, books,
playgrounds and school safety improvements. Lanza also scored victories
by saving many acres of open space and delivering tens of millions of
dollars for new active and passive recreational parks. These include the
first city soccer, baseball, and softball fields ever for Staten
Island’s south shore.
Understanding the importance of keeping Staten Island safe
against crime, and supporting the valiant efforts of our Police
Officers, Senator Lanza secured a key agreement from Mayor Bloomberg to
open a new Police precinct on Staten Island. Mr. Lanza was also
instrumental in opening the new firehouse in Rossville because he knows
that lowering response times will better ensure the safety of our
firefighters and citizens.
Senator Lanza called for the establishment of the
Mayoral Traffic and Transportation Task Force. He serves on the task
force in order to address Staten Island’s long standing traffic problems
and to obtain our fair share when it comes to public transportation.
Senator Lanza has also been appointed to the Senate Task Force on Port
Security.
Senator Lanza is Chairman of the Senate Civil Service
and Pensions Committee. He is also Chairman of the Senate Ethics
Committee and Co-Chair of the Legislative Ethics Commission where he has
already helped author and pass historic ethics reforms. These reforms
will ensure greater government accountability and help to maintain the
public trust which is so essential to effective governing. Senator Lanza
is also a member of the Senate Committees on Education; Transportation;
Codes; Education; Aging; Cities; Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities; and Judiciary.
Senator Lanza has brought the fight to reduce the high
property taxes which hurt families, seniors and businesses on Staten
Island to the Senate. Because higher taxes force families and jobs to
leave Staten Island, Lanza voted against the historic tax hikes in the
City Council. He also introduced legislation there to repeal the entire
tax increase. Senator Lanza is continuing that fight in Albany. He has
sponsored tax relief legislation in the Senate and has opposed budget
proposals which do not adequately reduce taxes for Staten Island
residents.
Senator Lanza has also stood up to those who seek to
cut desperately needed funds from Staten Island’s Hospitals and Nursing
Homes. Our Health Care system is vital to the well being of the People
of Staten Island, and Albany must assist, rather than oppose our efforts
to improve it.
As a former Assistant District Attorney in the office
of Robert Morgenthau, Senator Lanza remains tough on crime in the
Senate. He has sponsored
important legislation against sexual predators in order to keep our
children and neighbors safe from their despicable acts. He has also
pushed for new laws to throw the book at those heartless criminals who
attack and victimize our Seniors. He continues to lead the fight to keep
our neighborhoods safe.
