Eric Vitaliano

An attorney for 30 years , Eric Vitaliano has spent the last 20 years in public service using his legal skills to serve the people of Staten Island.

Early in his career , he helped spearhead two lawsuits that halted pollution from Transit Authority buses in West Brighton and St. George.He later wrote the legal brief that saved Miller Field from developers , leading to its inclusion with Fort Wadsworth in Gateway National Recreation Area.

As Staten Island's lawyer in Albany , he has crafted key laws to improve the lives of Islanders , including the law that guaranteed the closure of Fresh Kills landfill and another that established E-ZPass at all of our bridges.Vitaliano's legal skill also secured the Staten Island car pool discount on the Verrazano Bridge and other toll discounts for borough residents.

Vitaliano's reputation for fairness and his knowledge of the law led to his assignment on the Assembly's Ethics Committee , where he sat in judgment of fellow legislators.It was also the reason he was chosen to lead the complex constitutional floor debate on the reinstitution of the death penalty in New York State.

Vitaliano has also stood up for America's symbols and its heroes.He was honored by the American Legion of New York State for leading the debate on the Assembly floor in favor of a constitutional amendment to protect the American flag from desecration.As a longtime friend of police officers and firefighters , he has drafted laws defending their right to sue wrong-doers who had harmed them.

49th City Council District