Home & + | Search
Featured Categories: Special Focus | Performance Reviews | Previews | DanceSpots | Arts and Education | Press Releases
Join ExploreDance.com's email list | Mission Statement | Copyright notice | The Store | Calendar | User survey | Advertise
Click here to take the ExploreDance.com user survey.
Your anonymous feedback will help us continue to bring you coverage of more dance.
SPOTLIGHT:
POLITICS
ExploreDance.com (Magazine)
Web
Other Search Options
Caitlin Kelly
Politics
United States
Queens (NY)
New York
Astoria, NY

Legislator Profile: Costa Constantinides – New York City Council District 22

by Caitlin Kelly
October 13, 2014
Astoria, NY
Overview of Profiles: Legislator profiles were designed to provide a snapshot of New York legislators, their issues of concern, any legislation they have been integral in passing, and how they might be interested in issues related to dance. This information was gathered through Internet research yielding news articles and through candidate's district and campaign website.
Office held: New York City Council
District: 22
Term: First
Party: Democratic
Committees and Leadership: Subcommittee libraries (chair), Civil Service and Labor, Contracts, Cultural Affairs, Environmental Protection, Oversight and Investigations, Sanitation, and Transportation

Office Location: 31-09 Newtown Avenue Suite 209, Astoria NY 11102
Phone: 212-788-6963
Email: costa@council.nyc.gov

Focus of 2013 Platform: Climate Change (air quality, traffic, congestion, green space, waste management)

Vote Results: 65.6% (http://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/general/city-council/results.html)

Concerns as they relate to dance: Dance in education, public school physical education programs.

Biography:
Costa Constantinides represents the New York City Council's 22nd District, which includes his native Astoria along with parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. He serves as the chair the City Council's Sub-Committee on Libraries and sits on seven standing committees: Civil Service & Labor, Contracts, Cultural Affairs, Environmental Protection, Oversight & Investigations, Sanitation, and Transportation.
In November 2013, Costa was overwhelmingly elected to the City Council by more than 65 percent of the vote, becoming the first Greek-Cypriot-American elected to office in New York City.
Costa is grassroots community organizer, husband and father fighting for the community in which he grew up.
Costa is a forceful advocate for working men and women. He was instrumental in formulating legislation as the Legislative Director for two New York City Council Members, including serving under the chair of Environmental Protection, where he helped write some of the toughest laws to reduce pollution and protect drinking water. He assisted on key legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect our wetlands, improve the quality of our drinking supply, and on other important environmental measures. His environmental advocacy reached into his work as a community activist and Board Member of the United Community Civic Association when he called for the complete dismantling of the Poletti Power Plant in Astoria.
Costa is a fierce education activist and has fought on behalf of students and teachers. He helped to lead the effort to keep the Gifted & Talented Academy open at P.S. 122 in Astoria. He has also fought to save his alma mater Bryant High School and Long Island City High School from closure. Costa volunteers annually in neighborhood schools on New York Cares Day.
As a community activist, Costa organized canned food drives, helped save the Grand Avenue Post Office, held rallies to fight for traffic safety, fought for our seniors, and worked with other local elected officials to ensure Astoria received its fair share of funding for various programs.
Costa served as a Steering Committee Member of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council working on voter protection, advocating to ensure everyone who is eligible and wishes to vote is not disenfranchised. As the law student outreach co-chair, Costa organized throughout the state to work on important voter protection issues.
Costa is a proud graduate of local public schools P.S. 84 and P.S. 122. He graduated Cum Laude from CUNY Queens College with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and History while working full-time in retail management to put himself through school. Costa received his Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. He was admitted to the New York State Bar as an attorney in 2014.
Costa and his wife Lori were married in 2005 and reside in Astoria with their son Nikolas
Source: (http://council.nyc.gov/d22/html/members/biography.shtml)

Interests:

News Clippings

Decide NYC

Costa Constantinides Wins City Council District 22 Race

City Council Candidates on the Issues


Astoria Residents told to Lock Windows Following Fire Escape Burglary Spree

Voter Guide


NY Nonprofit

Keeping up with Councilman Constantinides

City Councilman Costa Constantinides on New Greek TV


Costa Constantinides Endorsed by Planned Parenthood

Astorians Mourn Departed Bus and Subway Lines

Melissa Katz Elected Queens Borough President

Constantinides Introduces Bill Requiring Daily Trash Pick Ups

Astoria Candidate Disagrees with Policy
Costa Constantinides (Photo Credit: NYC Council Website)

Costa Constantinides
(Photo Credit: NYC Council Website)

Photo © & courtesy of Unknown


NYC Council District 22 map (Credit: <a href='http://council.nyc.gov/d22/html/members/map.shtml'target='_blank'>http://council.nyc.gov/d22/html/members/map.shtml</a>)

NYC Council District 22 map
(Credit: http://council.nyc.gov/d22/html/members/map.shtml)

Photo © & courtesy of Unknown

Search for articles by
Performance Reviews, Places to Dance, Fashion, Photography, Auditions, Politics, Health