Sam Pirozzolo | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Pirozzolo in 2023 | |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the63rd district | |
| Assumed office January 22, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Cusick |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Signature |  |
| Website | State Assembly website |
Sam Pirozzolo is an American politician fromStaten Island that currently serves as a member of theNew York State Assembly for the63rd District, replacing the retiringMichael Cusick. Prior to this he had run for several offices in the Borough, and has been involved in the localStaten Island Republican Party.
Along with his political career, Pirozzolo continues to work as anoptician running a private practice for 35 years. He also served as the chairman of theSteinway Street Business Improvement District and was president of the Staten Island Community Education Council for seven years.[1]
In 2014 Pirozzolo, as vice president of theNew York City Parents Union, was part of aclass-action lawsuit against the State of New York demanding that theNew York State Education Department strike down provisions that "prevent the removal of ineffective teachers from the classroom" and "require layoffs of more effective teachers" in economic downturns, during which, the department lays off non-unionized teachers first, regardless of their performance, in an effort to keep as many members of theAmerican Federation of Teacherstenured as possible.[2][3]
During the2012 New York state elections Pirozzolo was the Republican nominee againstMichael Cusick for the63rd District. Touting his experience with the school board, he was endorsed by former mayorRudy Giuliani because of "his honesty, business experience and proven record of leadership." Pirozzolo ran on a campaign of reducing road tolls and supporting small businesses to drive economic growth.[4] He also stated, that if elected, he would've opposed mayorMichael Bloomberg's plan to build atrash incinerator on Staten Island, shortly after the Borough closed the numerous dumps on the island.[5] He would be endorsed by theAmalgamated Transit Union's local 1181, namely due Pirozzolo's efforts to restore school bus services while on the school board.[6] Cusick would go on to win theConservative andIndependence nominations and defeat Pirozzolo 66% to 33.9%.[7]
Pirozzolo was a candidate in the2021 New York City Council election seeking to represent the50th District after longtime incumbentSteven Matteo retired. Pirozzolo gained notoriety for the campaign when he erected a 16 ft "T" made of anAmerican flag on his front lawn. the T, which stands forTrump, was the subject to an arson attack and a $2,400 fine from the city government.[8][9] Pirozzolo argued that theCOVID-19 vaccine introduced by former President Donald Trump at the end of his tenure, was effective and that schools, businesses and public places should re-open and life should return to how it was before theCOVID-19 lockdowns. He also stated that his top goals would be the economy and public safety, opposing the tax reforms then pending in the city council, as well as supporting Staten Island's Police. Pirozzolo would get third place in the Republican Primary, with 26.5% of the vote, in an election that was mostly centered around the top two candidates,David Carr and Marko Kepi.[10][11]
Pirozzolo would once again become the Republican candidate for the 63rd District, as incumbent Cusick announced his intention to retire on January 1, 2023. Pirozzolo would face off against Democratic candidate Vincent Argenziano, winning the general election with 54.25% of the vote to Argenziano's 45.64%.[12] Pirozzolo was sworn into the New York State Assembly on January 22, 2023, by State Supreme Court justiceRonald Castorina, at a ceremony at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center.[13]
The first issues he has focused on while in the Assembly is an effort to alleviate traffic, support education and rethinking the state's proposed bail reforms. Pirozzolo proposed adding turning lanes to Rockland Avenue to alleviate Staten Island's traffic woes. He has also supported expandinghomeschooling at a state level, since, despite serving on a school board, Pirozzolo home-schooled his kids. Lastly, Pirozzolo has argued that the last thing the state needs now is a way for criminals to more easily get back onto the streets, and that any effort to lower or eliminatecash bail would result in high re-offending rates, and that instead, there should be a support network for the convicted and new minimum security prison facilities.[14]
