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Born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Vito has a long record of public service and dedication to the community.
In high school, he spent the summer working with children with disabilities. After college, he worked as a substitute teacher and an actor and continued to do so after joining the NYPD.
Rising to the rank of Lieutenant, he worked for 32 years, fighting crime, and addressing quality-of-life violations that made NYC's streets and subways safe. He fought for LGBTQIA+ rights, including advocating for the right for all couples to marry whomever they please. He is a 9/11 First Responder, and he used his policing experience and acting skills to help develop role-playing programs to address diversity and sexual harassment issues for corporations and government agencies. (Including a large NYS police agency and a major restaurant chain.)
He has been married to Kim Jalet for over thirty years. They raised all three of their children next door to the house where he grew up. The kids attended publie schools in Dyker Heights and Fort Greene, taking the subway like true New Yorkers.
After retiring from the police department, instead of enjoying his hobbies (fishing, boating, and gardening), he took an active role in his children's education, becoming the PTA president at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
When New York City targeted Asian students because they were "too successful" in sending their kids to Specialized High Schools like Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech, families asked for help, and Vito stepped up.
With his wife, Kim, Vito helped organize, held press conferences, staged protests and marched on City Hall. He also testified before the City Council, NYS Assembly, and NYS Senate to advocate for parents within the community.
He co-founded PLACE NYC (placenyc.org), which focuses on expanding school choice and gifted programs in the New York Public school system. Vito also ran and was elected (twice) to the Community Education Council and ran two competitive campaigns for Senate and City Council.
Vito worked for Assemblyman Lester Chang and continues to advise him on public safety and education issues.
He fights tirelessly for improved accountability, integrity, and transparency for all levels of government.
Vito is looking forward to discussing issues that matter to New Yorkers and will not shy away from difficult, complex topics. If you want to discuss something specific, we'd love to hear from you!