A Post-COVID Staten Island: What Have We Learned and What Does the Future Look Like?

Assemblyman Fall is the first Muslim and African-American Assemblymember elected from Staten Island. He comes from a working-class family of six. His parents immigrated to Staten Island from Guinea, West Africa, and displayed a commitment to improving the lives of those around them. Fall has been a public servant for years. In 2014, he served as the Staten Island Borough Director and Citywide Islamic Liaison for the Mayor of New York City, working to ensure Universal Prekindergarten and paid sick leave became realities. Fall then became the Chief of Staff to the Staten Island Parks and Recreation Commissioner During his first term, Assemblyman Fall has passed 6 bills, 4 of which were signed into law. He secured over $300,000 in funding for local public schools and educational programs and $1 million in capital funds to support community and economic development. He also worked with the Staten Island delegation to freeze the resident bridge toll at $5.50 for an additional two years. Since the start of COVID-19 Assemblyman Fall has helped over 100 unemployed constituents receive their unemployment benefits, served 1,500 hot meals to residents across the district, and distributed thousands of protective materials to residents and businesses in need. He also advocated and secured 1.5 million dollars for the NYC Commercial Lease Assistance Program which provides free legal services to NYC businesses. Assemblyman Fall has made it a priority to develop and strengthen relationships between community leaders and elected officials to champion solutions to ensure stable and healthier communities.

Joe Borelli was elected to serve the constituents of the 51st Council District in a special election held on November 3, 2015, and was re-elected to his first full term in November 2017. His district includes the South Shore of Staten Island. Joe serves as the Minority Whip, and is the current Chairperson for the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management at the New York City Council. Joe also currently serves as a member of the Committee on Education, Committee on Parks and Recreation, and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations. Joe previously represented his South Shore constituents in the New York State Assembly. He was the ranking minority member of the Assembly Cities Committee, and he also served on committees for Health, Housing, Transportation, Mental Health, Banking, Education, and Energy. Joe was a staunch advocate against energy cost increases, and the common core curriculum. Prior to his career as an elected official, Joe served as Chief of Staff to former Councilman Vincent Ignizio since 2007, formerly serving in the same role for Ignizio in the state Assembly since 2005. Dedicated to improving the quality of life on Staten Island, Joe was successful in coordinating the development of several Park and Rides here on Staten Island, securing funds to outfit nearly every classroom on the South Shore with a Smartboard and has worked with the Parks Department on the renovation and construction of several parks on Staten Island. Joe grew upon Staten Island where he attended Public School 4, Our Lady Star of the Sea Grammar School, and St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School from which he graduated in 2000. Joe would go on to Marist College where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, and an M.A. from the College of Staten Island, a subject that he has been teaching locally as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Staten Island since 2008. Active in his community, Joe has been involved in the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force, the West Shore Light Rail Task Force, the Brookfield Landfill Citizens Advisory Committee, and helped spearhead the formation of the South Shore Business Improvement District. He was also instrumental in the successful fight to eradicate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from public school buildings. Throughout his career in state and city government, Joe has proven himself to be a leader in the movement to reduce taxes, tolls, and fees in New York City. As a volunteer, Joe serves on the Development Board of St. Joseph by the Sea High School, as well as the Friends of the College of Staten Island, which raise money for scholarships. He has assisted dozens of non-profit, veterans and community organizations in accessing governmental grants. He has helped raise private money for equipment to help handicapped children at Mount Loretto, and has worked with the Verdino Foundation to bring the new state-of-the-art little league facility to the South Shore. Joe is a native Staten Islander and lives in the Annadale section of Staten Island with his wife, Rachel, their two sons Joseph and John, and his English Bulldog, Luna.