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Vito P. Battista

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Vito P. Battista
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 38th district
In office
January 1, 1969 – December 31, 1974
Preceded byAnthony J. Travia
Succeeded byFrederick D. Schmidt
Personal details
Born(1908-09-07)September 7, 1908
Bari, Italy
DiedMay 24, 1990(1990-05-24) (aged 81)
Brooklyn, New York City, New York
Political partyRepublican

Vito P. Battista (September 7, 1908 – May 24, 1990) was an American politician who served in the New York State Assembly from the 38th district from 1969 to 1974.[1][2] He ran for New York's 9th congressional district in the 1980 election. He lost to incumbent, Geraldine Ferraro.[3] He served on the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board under president Ronald Reagan from 1984 until 1987.[4][5] He died on May 24, 1990, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York at age 81.[6]

Political career

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Beginning with the 1957 New York City mayoral race, Battista embarked on the first of what would be over 20 runs for office. He became such a fixture in New York politics, that The New York Times referred to him as “the perennial Batista.”[7] Battista was known for campaign tactics that attracted media attention, including, at various points parading a camel, an elephant and a monkey through the streets of New York.[8]

He won his first election, to the New York State Assembly, representing District 38, which covered Brooklyn and Queens, in 1969.[9]

A main focus of Battista and his United Taxpayers Party was a lifelong opposition to rent control and public housing, and opposition to busing of children as an attempt to achieve school integration.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Francis X. Clines (1972-04-18). "Assembly Votes Lindsay Plan too Save Corona Homes". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  2. ^ Glenn Singer (1972-06-11). "Voters Hold the Key In 'Battle of Corona'". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  3. ^ https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=49849
  4. ^ "Appointment of Three Members of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board | the American Presidency Project".
  5. ^ https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/appointment-five-members-the-architectural-and-transportation-barriers-compliance-board>
  6. ^ Alfonso A. Narvaez (1990-05-25). "Vito Battista, 81, Architect, Dies; Colorful New York Political Figure". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  7. ^ "The Perennial Battista". The New York Times. July 1, 1965. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "Battista Visits Wall Street With Elephant, Monkey". The New York Times. July 28, 1985. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Our Campaigns: Battista, Vito P." Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Peterson, Iver (August 4, 1974). "Integration Is Focus Of Actions By Schools". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Cleffi, R. (May 5, 2022). "Arch-Conservative". Urban Omnibus (A Publication of the Architectural League of New York). Retrieved December 1, 2024.