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 to his first term as Borough President on November 6, 2001 and assumed office on January 1, 2002. He was re-elected to a second term on November 8, 2005, and then to a third term on November 3, 2009. He began his third term on January 1, 2010.
A recognized leader in fighting for Staten Island, Borough President Molinaro works closely with City and State officials to continue to improve 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. Molinaro’s downzoning efforts comprised the largest downzoning on Staten Island in 40 years, and reduced the number of new homes that can be built on Staten Island by 75,000.
Molinaro has led the renaissance of South and Midland Beaches, reconstructing the Boardwalks, adding a new fishing pier at Ocean Breeze, spray fountains, a snack bar, and new boardwalk amenities such as lighting, signage, and benches.
Molinaro has also helped to keep Staten Island as the “Greenest Borough,” adding new parks to our already impressive collection, bringing the total amount of Staten Island parkland to 33% of our land area. Thanks to the efforts of Borough President Molinaro and our other Elected Officials and community leaders, one third of Staten Island is forever protected from development.
Molinaro has actively encouraged new businesses to come to our Borough, and has encouraged existing ones to stay. New retail centers have opened in Charleston to great success, allowing Staten Islanders to shop at their favorite stores without having to leave the Borough. VISY Paper, located in Travis, was the first manufacturing firm to come to New York City in 50 years, thanks to Borough President Molinaro’s leadership. Molinaro also helped to reopen the New York Container Terminal, which is our State’s largest container port and one of our Boroughs largest employers.
Molinaro believes that while children are 25% of our population, they are 100% of our future. To that end, he has purchased wireless laptop computers for all of Staten Island’s public intermediate schools. He has also provided funding for auditorium and gymnasium improvements, helping to keep the arts and physical fitness opportunities present in our schools. Molinaro has also brought new schools to Staten Island, providing hundreds of new school seats and unlimited educational opportunities to our Borough’s youth.
Molinaro has also made the improvement of traffic and transportation a top priority. He was successful in creating the s89 bus route from Staten Island to New Jersey, and has encouraged the use of mass transit through new park and rides throughout the Borough. Molinaro has detailed plans to renew the North Shore Rail Line for passenger service, and has proposed a light rail to run along our Borough’s West Shore, in addition to bringing innovations such as “Smart” traffic lights to Staten Island. The “Smart Lights,” coupled with enhanced signage and intersection improvements, have helped ease traffic on our roads and highways.
Community Service
Over a 20-year period, Borough President Molinaro has served on the Board of Directors for the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex, Staten Island Community Television, New York State Regional Organ Transplant Network (now New York Organ Donor Network) and Bayley Seton Hospital.
Molinaro currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors Executive Committee. He also serves on the Board of the Heart Institute, a modern cardiac care facility that, as Deputy Borough President, he helped bring to our Borough. Molinaro has served on the Board of Directors of the Sisters of Charity Health Care Corporation, and is currently a member of the Richmond University Medical Center’s Board of Trustees.
In memory of his late wife, 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. In 2000, St. Elizabeth Ann’s Health and Rehabilitation Center opened the James P. and Carol E. Molinaro Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Atrium.
Personal
Borough President Molinaro is a longtime resident of the Fort Wadsworth section of Staten Island, where he and his wife raised their family. The son of Italian immigrants, Molinaro was born on March 11, 1931 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Prior to becoming a public servant, Molinaro operated a successful recycling business.
Photographs
James P. Molinaro
Head Shot
Growth Management Task Force
732-foot Fishing Pier at Ocean Breeze
Renovations at St. George Ferry Terminal
