Page 9 - NYLS Magazine • 2014 • Vol. 33, No. 1

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hree weeks ater assuming oice Oddo ran, and was elected, on a platform serious home damage or
on January 1, 2014, as Staten that stressed Sandy recovery as well as
other situations requiring
Island’s Borough President,
protecting the borough’s homeowners
the Honorable James S. Oddo ’91 came from future superstorms. Discussing his temporary housing.

dressed for a bitter cold and snowy day in vision for the future of Staten Island in a
a sweater, corduroys, and ankle-high shoes. video on his campaign website, he said, On April 17, Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted

His high-ceilinged, oak-paneled oice— “We have an opportunity, brought about a press conference on Sandy relief in the
big enough for a classroom—was illed by tragedy and real loss, to ensure we have Midland Beach section of Staten Island,

with a passel of busy aides and interns.
a more sustainable community.” Oddo pledging to step up relief eforts. As
said he would press City oicials “to make New York Times
At the start of the interview, never mind reported in the , Oddo
a main thrust of the rebuilding plan an promised “to implore and to beg” the
the storming weather, Oddo lashed a acquisition-for-redevelopment program
sunny smile. He bounded from the chair Mayor to oversee the recovery personally.
that provides owners the chance to sell “Forgive me for being defensive,” he said.
behind his immense desk, shook hands, their property for redevelopment while
and introduced himself as just plain “When you become an elected oicial
retaining a right to trade up to a new on Staten Island, you don’t stop being a
“Jimmy,” the name he’s known since his housing stock to be constructed.”
Staten Islander.”
short-pants days on the East Shore.
Oddo and his staf hope to replicate As a 15-year veteran of the New York
Without once glancing at his
action taken by oicials in New Orleans City Council—for eight of which he
wristwatch—a rare courtesy among in the wake of Hurricane Katrina back in served as Republican Minority Leader—
electeds—Oddo held forth on ambitious
2005. he Louisiana Land Trust program Oddo is known to be reliably respectful
plans for his native borough, his personal purchases storm-damaged properties and of opposing views. He believes this to
philosophy, and how his education at
resells them.
be characteristic of “boat people,” those
New York Law School shaped a pragmatic who take the Staten Island Ferry, as he
theory of governance.
Nearly 200 NYLS
and others from his borough were gently
mocked as back in his Law School days.
“Issue number one is—still—recovery students reported
from Sandy,” Oddo said of the second
being afected by the “Republicans and Democrats on Staten
most disastrous superstorm in U.S.
history, which killed 23 Staten Islanders, superstorm. hirty-seven Island work together. Maybe because
we’re islanders, and it’s us against the
ripped through seawalls and berms on the students, some of them
South Shore, and tore homes from their world. Probably because we have to,” said
Oddo. “But this is one borough where the
foundations. “Our people are tired. hey Staten Islanders, sufered
two-party system is healthy. Republicans
don’t want to hear any more words.”

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