Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Biography
Borough President James P. Molinaro
James P. Molinaro is Staten Island's 14th Borough President, and the first registered Conservative to hold borough-wide office in New York City.
Molinaro was elected Borough President on November 6, 2001 and assumed office January 1st, 2002. He was re-elected on November 8, 2005 and will serve a second term as Borough President from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009.
A recognized leader in fighting for Staten Island, Borough President Molinaro works closely with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki to continue the improvements made on Staten Island and enhance the quality of life of its residents.
Accomplishments
As Borough President, James Molinaro’s leadership has resulted in major improvements and progress for Staten Island.
Overdevelopment
Molinaro’s downzoning effort, the largest downzoning on Staten Island in 40 years, affected more than 6,000 individual properties and over 40,000 acres of land. This comprehensive downzoning has reduced the number of new homes that can be built on the Island by 75,000.
South Beach
Borough President Molinaro spearheaded the renaissance of South Beach, including a multi-million dollar reconstruction of the Boardwalk and the addition of new ballfields, parks and a fishing pier that opened in 2003.
Bloomingdale Park
Working closely with Mayor Bloomberg, Molinaro helped to create this new park with ball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, walking trails, a playground and scenic waterways.
Charleston
A long awaited plan for the development of a 135 acre site in Charleston will soon bring a new retail site anchored by Target. Also on the property will be new ballfields, soccer fields and passive parkland. In addition, land has been set aside for an MTA bus garage, future school construction and a senior retirement village.
Economic Development
Borough President Molinaro was instrumental in bringing VISY paper to Staten Island. The first manufacturing firm to come to New York City in 50 years is now underway with an expansion project that will create new jobs and increase employment opportunities for the people of Staten Island. He also helped to reopen New York Container Point, New York State’s largest container port and one of the borough’s largest employers.
Education
Molinaro allotted $500,000 from his capital budget to purchase wireless laptop computers for all of Staten Island’s Intermediate schools, as well as some elementary schools. Borough President Molinaro has also worked with Mayor Bloomberg to bring additional schools to Staten Island. New schools include PS 58 (opened in 2003) and I.S. 43 (scheduled to open in 2007)
Public Safety
Borough President Molinaro provided funding for a firefighting boat as well as a structure for Rescue 5 to house its vehicles. Last year, Borough President Molinaro provided $400,000 to fund a high-tech Field Command Vehicle for the Police Department. Molinaro also purchased two all terrain vehicles for the 123 rd Precinct to patrol wooded areas on the Island’s South Shore.
Going Forward
Borough President Molinaro continues his hard work to improve Staten Island.
Molinaro’s ongoing efforts include:
- Continued efforts to address overdevelopment.
- Creating a Mid-Island Bluebelt.
- Working closely with Mayor Bloomberg to transform the Fresh Kills Landfill into a world class park
- Reviving the North Shore Railroad for passenger service and creating a Light Rail along the Island’s West Shore
As Borough President, James Molinaro’s efforts and leadership will ensure that Staten Island remains New York City’s greenest, cleanest, and safest Borough.
Public Service
Mr. Molinaro's political career began when he joined a growing movement of New Yorkers concerned by the liberal nature of the state government. He joined the New York State Conservative Party in 1964. Mr. Molinaro rose quickly within the ranks of the state's Conservative Party, winning election in 1974 as Chairman of Richmond County, and subsequently as Vice Chair of the state party. In 1989, he was elected Executive Vice Chair of the New York State Conservative Party, a post which he still holds.
Prior to becoming Borough President, Mr. Molinaro served for twelve years as Deputy Borough President to former Borough President Guy V. Molinari (1990-2001). Mr. Molinaro also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Guy V. Molinari, representing New York's 14th Congressional District.
Mr. Molinaro has served as a political advisor for a wide range of elected officials. His political expertise has been instrumental in electing a number of elected officials at every level of government, including former U.S. Senator Alphonse D’Amato, Surrogate Judge John Fusco, Councilman James Oddo, former Congresswoman Susan Molinari and, most recently, Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan.
Community Service
Mr. Molinaro has a long record of community service to his credit, with many charitable groups benefiting from his involvement. Over a twenty-year period, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex, Staten Island Community Television, New York State Regional Organ Transplant and Bayley Seton Hospital. He was also the Chairman of the St. Elizabeth Ann's Health & Rehabilitation Center from 1993 to 1999, a facility he helped to create.
Jim currently serves on the Board of the Heart Institute of Staten Island, a modern cardiac care surgery facility that allows Staten Islanders to receive potentially life-saving services in their own borough, rather than being forced to travel long distances to out-of-borough or out-of-state institutions.
Jim also helped to establish Staten Island’s first AIDS day care center and AIDS medical care facility. Today, Jim continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Sisters of Charity Health Care Corporation.
In memory of his late wife, Mr. Molinaro is very active in health care related charitable works. In 1991, Bayley Seton Hospital dedicated a new dialysis unit in the name of Carol E. Molinaro. More recently in 2000, St. Elizabeth Ann's Health & Rehabilitation center opened the James P. and Carol E. Molinaro Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Atrium.
Personal
Molinaro is a longtime resident of the Fort Wadsworth section of Staten Island, where he and his wife raised their two sons.
The son of Italian immigrants, Molinaro was born on March 11, 1931 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where he grew up with brother Vito and sisters Jean and Ann. Prior to public service, Jim operated a successful small business in recycling.
Though Mr. Molinaro is widely recognized for many accomplishments, he is most proud of the everyday gestures of help he has made to people from all walks of life, particularly his work with the elderly, the chronically ill, and the poor.
Photographs
James P. Molinaro
Head Shot
Growth Management Task Force
732-foot Fishing Pier at Ocean Breeze
Renovations at St. George Ferry Terminal
