Preceded by Madeline Provenzano Name James Vacca Website Official website | Children 1 Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party | |
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Born August 23, 1955 (age 68)
The Bronx, New York ( 1955-08-23 ) Alma mater State University of New York (B.A)
Queens College (M.A.) Education Queens College, City University of New York | ||
Eldridge co james vacca
James 'Jimmy' Vacca (born August 23, 1955) is the Council member for the 13th District of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat.
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The district includes Allerton, Baychester, Bronx Park, City Island, Co-op City, Country Club, Ferry Point Park, Hart Island, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Bay Park, Pelham Islands, Schuylerville, Throggs Neck, part of Van Nest and Westchester Square in The Bronx.
Life and career
Vacca was born in the Bronx in 1955 and raised in Pelham Bay. He attended New York City public schools, graduating from P.S. 71, J.H.S. 101, and Christopher Columbus High School. He holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York and a master's degree in Urban Studies from CUNY Queens College. Vacca is also an adjunct professor at CUNY Queens College, where he teaches courses in urban studies.
Prior to being elected to the City Council in 2005, Vacca served as District Manager of Bronx Community Board 10 for 26 years, and was appointed to the position in 1980, when he was only 25 years old, becoming one of the youngest District Managers in the city's history. He had previously served as Chairman of the Board. For numerous consecutive years under his leadership, Board 10 was ranked the cleanest and safest community board in the Bronx.
Vacca came out as a gay man in 2016.
New York City Council
In early 2005, with Councilwoman Madeline Provenzano term-limited out of office, Vacca announced his candidacy for the 13th Council District seat. Already an established public figure in the East Bronx due to his years as District Manager, he was endorsed by Congressman Joseph Crowley, State Senator Jeffrey Klein, and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, as well as dozens of community and civic groups, and The New York Times.
In the September 13, 2005, Democratic Party primary, he faced four opponents: former Assemblyman Stephen B. Kaufman, Joseph A. McManus, Ismael Betancourt, and Egidio Joseph Sementelli. He won with nearly 40% of the vote; Kaufman captured roughly 25%. In the general election, he defeated Philip F. Foglia, candidate of the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines, with 64% of the vote.
In 2009, Vacca ran for re-election under the Democratic and Republican lines, after being cross-endorsed by the Bronx Republican Party. Facing a little-known challenger running on the Conservative Party line, Vacca was easily re-elected to a second term, winning 92.8% of the vote. He easily won election to a final term in 2013 with over 86% of the vote.
On Council, Vacca has been a strong advocate for responsible zoning laws and for prevention of overdevelopment. In 2007, Vacca was also named co-chair of the Council's Working Group on School Governance and Mayoral Control, established to guide the Council recommendations upon the expiration of mayoral control in 2009. After months of informal meetings with educators, union leaders, Administration officials, advocates, and parents, the Working Group issued its report in June 2009.
Vacca has also been influential in protecting funding for the Fire Department of New York. He also has been a proponent of congestion pricing.