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Peter J. Gleason, a lifelong New Yorker, is a progressive activist, lawyer, retired FDNY firefighter, former NYPD Police Officer as well as
a 20-year veteran with the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
Pete is the best qualified candidate for City Council based on his
LEADERSHIP, FOLLOW UP AND RESULTS. He brings to the table
these strong hallmarks from his long and exceptional career in public
service. He will continue his advocacy for the people of New York as your City Council Member.
 Born in the Bronx in 1963 to a stay at home mom and a NYC Firefighter Peter realized at a young age the meaning not only of public service but
the responsibility that came with it. This responsibility is rooted in his family's public service dating back to the 1920's. While one grandfather
worked on the waterfront as a longshoreman and was instrumental in establishing Local 791, his other grandfather was a "sandhog" on the
construction of what is now known as the IND 8th Ave Subway line. It is through their memory that Peter realized that those who do not learn
from the past blindly embrace the future. Whether put in terms of a deteriorated and grossly underutilized waterfront or the present state of
the MTA, Pete is determined that the legacy left by the hard working immigrants who have come to our great shores is not in vain.
He is the only candidate WHO HAS PUT HIMSELF BETWEEN YOU AND HARM'S WAY - and he intends to keep doing the same for you as your City Council representative.
Pete's issues are wide ranging, from affordable housing and the environment to transportation as well as asbestos in NYC schools. Pete has been an unyielding advocate for World Trade Center emergency responders (Pete himself responded on 9/11).
Whether it be the slush-fund scandal in City Council or the term limits debacle, Pete has spoken out long before others.
What is more important, by virtue of his professional background he has interfaced with virtually every city agency as well as a number of state and federal agencies. Pete stays with an issue and demands accountability and change long after others have moved on to the next headline-grabbing debate. For example, click here to see Pete's position, dating back to 2003, on the Seward Park development site. Transparency and tenacity are the words associated with Pete.
(Click here to go to Pete's Issue page)
Pete's public service to Lower Manhattan dates back to 1981 when he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and for 15 years was assigned to Governors Island.
In 1983 Pete became a NYC Police Officer assigned to the elite Manhattan South Task Force based on the Lower East Side. His unit removed hundreds of guns
and millions in drugs from our streets, these initiatives changed our quality of life for the better.
Pete's unit was personally thanked by NY State Assembly Member Sheldon Silver and then mayor Ed Koch for these efforts.
On the National level, Pete was part of a U.S. Coast Guard/U.S. Navy anti-terrorist task force assigned to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Additionally, Pete was involved in the clean up operation of the Exxon/Valdez oil spill. Remarkably, Pete notes that the local tribal councils in Valdez, Alaska did more to raise public awareness on the environmental impacts than our own City Council did after 9/11, an issue he deeply and passionately cares about.
Additionally, Pete oversaw an educational program aimed to clean up NY Harbour. This program resulted in the removal of tons of debris being removed from our waterways and shorelines.
In 1995 Pete was selected, by Rotary International, as an "Ambassador of Good Will" to represent the United States in Thailand. The program's intent was to forge a spirit of cultural understanding. Pete was part of a group instrumental in building a school in one of the most underprivileged areas in North East Thailand.
Standing up for civil rights, whether as a public servant from the inside or in the public purview, led to William Kunstler, the renowned civil rights attorney, to write Pete's recommendation letter for law school. While attending CUNY Law School, Pete received the Henry J. Reilly Memorial Scholarship from the Reserve Officers Association.
A good part of Pete's practice consists of Pro Bono socially conscience work. Pete has spent considerable unpaid time on animal rights, representing 9-11 responders, and raising
awareness of an asbestos crisis in our schools. Peter is proud to have been named, by Irish America Magazine, one of the top 100 Irish-American Lawyers in the United States.
Pete's candidacy for City Council is grounded in his belief that we need strong leadership NOW. He has been involved in all of our issues over many years from the ground up. Whether as a civilian, a lawyer, firefighter, or police officer, Pete knows you must respond, resolve the situation and finish the job. This tenacity of spirit and knowing our concerns from the grassroots level provides a unique and valuable insight to today's enormous issues and tasks, an insight which few candidates can make claim to.
Pete has stood up to right wrongs his whole life. He will bring a new level of organization to the District 1 City Council office and promises to respond to each and every constituent who needs his help.
Pete Gleason is the person to get downtown Manhattan the attention, the services and the funds we need. He has the skills, the background, the spirit and the courage to do the job and do it well.
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Peter Gleason's grandfather, 2nd from right.
Construction of IND 8th Ave. Subway Line
1984 Olympic Task Force.
Patrolling the LA/Long Beach Harbor.
Pete volunteer on Hillary's first Senate race.
Lt. Peter Gleason, left, with Joe Brennan, co-owner of Always Bloomin' in Castleton Corners
- Help Us Protect Marine Environment, Sea Partners Campaign
Anchorage Times May 15, 1991 - Jean Lamb, left, of
VECO International Inc., Lt. Peter Gleason of the U.S.
Coast Guard and Jon Czarnecki of Exxon Corp. work
on an oiled beach in Prince William Sound this week.
Peter Gleason, Patrick Gleason and Richard Gleason
WTC 2001
Peter Gleason and William Kunstler
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