# James Vacca

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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name        = James Vacca
|image       = James Vacca.jpg
|image_size  = 
|office      = Member of the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council)<br>from the [13th](/source/New_York_City's_13th_City_Council_district) district
|term_start  = January 1, 2006
|term_end    = December 31, 2017
|predecessor = [Madeline Provenzano](/source/Madeline_Provenzano)
|successor   = [Mark Gjonaj](/source/Mark_Gjonaj)
|birth_place = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), U.S.
|death_date  = 
|death_place = 
|party       = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
|spouse      = 
|children    = 1
|education   = [Empire State College](/source/Empire_State_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[Queens College](/source/Queens_College) ([MA](/source/Master_of_Arts))
}}
'''James Vacca''' is an American [politician](/source/politician) who served in the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council) from the [13th district](/source/New_York_City's_13th_City_Council_district) from 2006 to 2017. He is a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)).

The district includes [Allerton](/source/Allerton%2C_Bronx), [Baychester](/source/Baychester), [Bronx Park](/source/Bronx_Park), [City Island](/source/City_Island%2C_Bronx), [Country Club](/source/Country_Club%2C_Bronx), [Ferry Point Park](/source/Ferry_Point_Park), [Hart Island](/source/Hart_Island%2C_New_York), [Morris Park](/source/Morris_Park%2C_Bronx), [Pelham Bay](/source/Pelham_Bay), [Pelham Bay Park](/source/Pelham_Bay_Park), [Pelham Islands](/source/Pelham_Islands), [Schuylerville](/source/Schuylerville), [Throggs Neck](/source/Throggs_Neck), part of [Van Nest](/source/Van_Nest) and [Westchester Square](/source/Westchester_Square) in [The Bronx](/source/The_Bronx).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maps.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/?searchType=FeatureSearch&featureTypeName=CITY_COUNCIL_DISTRICT&featureName=13 |title=NYCityMap |work=NYC.gov |accessdate=2016-03-21}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Vacca was born in [The Bronx](/source/The_Bronx) and raised in [Pelham Bay](/source/Pelham_Bay_(neighborhood)%2C_Bronx). He attended [New York City public schools](/source/New_York_City_Public_Schools), graduating from P.S. 71, J.H.S. 101, and [Christopher Columbus High School](/source/Christopher_Columbus_High_School_(Bronx%2C_New_York)) in the Bronx. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from [Empire State College](/source/Empire_State_College) and a Master of Arts in Urban Studies from [Queens College, City University of New York](/source/Queens_College%2C_City_University_of_New_York).

== Career ==
In 1980, Vacca was appointed to district manager of [Bronx Community Board 10](/source/Bronx_Community_Board_10). At 25 years old, he was one of the youngest district managers in the city's history. Under his leadership, community board 10 was frequently ranked the cleanest and safest community board in the Bronx.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/07/nyregion/neighborhood-report-on-the-road-pelham-bay-park-james-vacca-the-king-of-clean.html?scp=1&sq=james%20vacca&st=cse |title=James Vacca, the King of Clean |work=New York Times |date=1994-08-07 |accessdate=2015-09-23 }}</ref>

===New York City Council===
In early 2005, with Councilwoman [Madeline Provenzano](/source/Madeline_Provenzano) term-limited out of office, Vacca announced his candidacy for the [13th Council District](/source/New_York_City's_13th_City_Council_district) seat. Already an established public figure in the East Bronx due to his years as district manager, he was endorsed by Congressman [Joseph Crowley](/source/Joseph_Crowley) and Assemblyman [Michael Benedetto](/source/Michael_Benedetto), as well as dozens of community and civic groups, and ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/opinion/nyregionopinions/boroendorse.8.24.05.html?scp=5&sq=james%20vacca&st=cse |title=City Council Endorsements |work=New York Times |date=2005-08-28 |accessdate=2015-09-23 }}</ref>

In the September 13, 2005, Democratic Party primary, he faced four opponents: former Assemblyman [Stephen B. Kaufman](/source/Stephen_B._Kaufman), Joseph A. McManus, Ismael Betancourt, and Egidio Joseph Sementelli. He won with nearly 40% of the vote; Kaufman captured roughly 25%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/downloads/pdf/results/2005/primary/P2005BronxDem.pdf|title=Statement and Return Report for Certification: Primary Election 2005 - Bronx County - Democratic Party|date=2015-09-13|website=Board of Elections in the City of New York|access-date=2017-12-24|archive-date=2015-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210062422/http://vote.nyc.ny.us/downloads/pdf/results/2005/primary/P2005BronxDem.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the general election, he defeated [Philip Foglia](/source/Philip_Foglia), candidate of the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines, with 64% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/downloads/pdf/results/2005/general/Bronx/Bronx%20City%20Council%2013%20Recap.pdf|title=Statement and Return Report for Certification, General Election 2005, for Member of the City Council (13)|date=2005-11-08|website=Board of Elections in the City of New York|access-date=2017-12-24|archive-date=2017-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224213824/https://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/downloads/pdf/results/2005/general/Bronx/Bronx%20City%20Council%2013%20Recap.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2009, facing a little-known challenger running on the Conservative Party line, Vacca was easily re-elected to a second term, winning 92.8% of the vote. He was re-elected to his final term in 2013 with over 83% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://project.wnyc.org/election2013/|title=Election 2013 {{!}} WNYC|website=project.wnyc.org|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref>

On the Council, Vacca was an advocate for responsible [zoning](/source/zoning) laws and for prevention of [overdevelopment](/source/overdevelopment). In 2007, Vacca was also named co-chair of the council's Working Group on School Governance and Mayoral Control, established to guide the council recommendations upon the expiration of mayoral control in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bxtimes.com/stories/2009/8/doc4994826e7ccac881180421.html|title=Vacca submits report to Quinn on mayor's school control renewal|date=2009-02-17|work=Bronx Times|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en}}</ref> After months of informal meetings with educators, union leaders, Administration officials, advocates, and parents, the Working Group issued its report in June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=449583&GUID=D345FC8B-26AB-4508-889F-BA6A8F02C30D&Options=&Search=|title=New York City Council Committee on Education report: Oversight: Mayoral Control of New York City Schools|last=|first=|date=2009-06-04|website=New York City Council|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://council.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/mayoral_control_june_09_rpt.pdf|title=Report: The New York City Council Working Group on Mayoral Control and School Governance|date=2009-06-12|website=Internet Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222004502/http://council.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/mayoral_control_june_09_rpt.pdf|archive-date=2016-12-22|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://council.nyc.gov/press/2009/03/24/1209/|title=Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn's Submission to the Assembly on Education on School Governance|date=2009-03-24|website=New York City Council|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref> The report suggested a new system of municipal control.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ny.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2009/02/06/city-councils-governance-group-urges-more-council-authority/|title=City Council's governance group urges more Council authority|work=[Chalkbeat](/source/Chalkbeat)|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en-US}}</ref> Later that month, the New York State legislature passed 8903-A, a bill relating to the management and operation of the New York City School District.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nyassembly.gov/Press/2009SigLeg/|title=2009 NYS Assembly Significant Legislation|website=nyassembly.gov|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref>

Vacca has also been influential in protecting funding for the [Fire Department of New York](/source/Fire_Department_of_New_York).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/city-island-firehouse-stays-open-budget-plan-shutdown-article-1.425937 |title=City Island firehouse stays open despite budget's plan for shutdown |work=Daily News |date=2009-07-01 |accessdate=2015-09-23 }}</ref> He also has been a proponent of [congestion pricing](/source/congestion_pricing).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2015/03/bronx-councilman-james-vacca-backs-move-ny-congestion-pricing-plan/ |title=Bronx Councilman James Vacca Backs 'Move NY' Congestion Pricing Plan |work=Observer |date=2015-03-16 |accessdate=2015-09-23 }}</ref>

In August 2017, as chair of the Committee on Technology, Vacca introduced an [algorithmic transparency](/source/Algorithmic_bias) bill, Int. 1696–2017, that would require city agencies "that use algorithms or other automated processing methods that target services, impose penalties, or police persons to publish the source code used for such processing"—a nationwide first.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/24/nyregion/showing-the-algorithms-behind-new-york-city-services.html|title=Showing the Algorithms Behind New York City Services|last=Dwyer|first=Jim|date=2017-08-24|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3137815&GUID=437A6A6D-62E1-47E2-9C42-461253F9C6D0|title=The New York City Council - File #: Int 1696-2017|last=Vacca|first=James|date=2017-08-24|website=legistar.council.nyc.gov|language=en|id=*|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cjr.org/tow_center/algorithms-government.php|title=The media today: Algorithms at City Hall|work=Columbia Journalism Review|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en}}</ref> The bill was influenced by the scholarship of [Danah boyd](/source/Danah_boyd), [Kate Crawford](/source/Kate_Crawford), and [Cathy O'Neil](/source/Cathy_O'Neil).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JamesVacca13/status/901112381195137026|title=@zephoria's work was very helpful as we researched the issues. @katecrawford's was too!|last=Vacca|first=James|date=2017-08-25|website=@JamesVacca13|language=en|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JamesVacca13/status/901110787477032960|title=@mathbabedotorg's work was definitely a great resource as we developed this legislation!|last=Vacca|first=James|date=2017-08-25|website=@JamesVacca13|language=en|access-date=2017-12-24}}</ref> After public hearings and negotiation with city agencies, an amended bill, Int. 1696-A, passed the City Council unanimously in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nyc.councilmatic.org/legislation/int-1696-2017/|title=Introduction 1696-2017 - NYC Councilmatic|last=DataMade|first=NYC Council &|website=NYC Councilmatic|language=en|access-date=2017-12-24|archive-date=2017-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102073847/https://nyc.councilmatic.org/legislation/int-1696-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=New York City Council Committee on Technology hearing|date=2017-10-16|url=https://councilnyc.viebit.com/player.php?hash=xHL4m7vQXCM9|place=City Hall, New York City, New York, UA|language=en|accessdate=2017-12-24}}</ref> The amended bill creates a task force to consider the issue and report to the city in late 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/new-york-city-takes-algorithmic-discrimination|title=New York City Takes on Algorithmic Discrimination|work=[American Civil Liberties Union](/source/American_Civil_Liberties_Union)|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en}}</ref> Researcher Julia Powles, assessing the amended bill in ''[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)'', predicted that the task force's findings will have significant international and domestic impact, but warned that the bill's lack of reporting requirements for city agencies means the task force will need to rely on agencies' voluntary disclosures, which may be sparse.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/new-york-citys-bold-flawed-attempt-to-make-algorithms-accountable|title=New York City's Bold, Flawed Attempt to Make Algorithms Accountable|last=Powles|first=Julia|date=2017-12-21|magazine=[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)|access-date=2017-12-24|issn=0028-792X}}</ref>

During the 2023 New York Council elections, Vacca withdrew his support for Democratic candidate [Marjorie Velazquez](/source/Marjorie_Vel%C3%A1zquez) after she expressed support for the construction of 349 housing units (168 of which were affordable housing) in Throggs Neck.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Custodio |first=Jonathan |date=2023-11-09 |title=Rezoning Vote Shattered Voters' Trust in Defeated Bronx Councilmember |url=http://www.thecity.nyc/2023/11/09/marjorie-velazquez-housing-vote-bronx-council/ |website=THE CITY - NYC News |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Teaching===
Since 2003, Vacca has taught New York City politics, public administration, and non-profit management at [CUNY Queens College](/source/Queens_College%2C_City_University_of_New_York). In 2018, he was appointed as Distinguished Lecturer in the Urban Studies department. He co-founded the college's food pantry in 2023 to address food insecurity among students. Continuing his work from his days as chairperson of the New York City Council's Committee on Technology, he is a member of the Queens College Tech Incubator's Advisory Board.

== Personal life ==
Vacca [came out](/source/coming_out) as gay in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 22, 2016|title=Flood of Support After Bronx Councilman James Vacca Reveals on Twitter He Is Gay|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/nyregion/flood-of-support-after-bronx-councilman-james-vacca-reveals-on-twitter-he-is-gay.html}}</ref>

==Election history==
{| class="wikitable collapsible"

|- valign="bottom"
! colspan="4" | Election history
|- valign="bottom"
! Location
! Year
! Election
! Results

|-
![NYC Council<br>District 13](/source/New_York_City_Council)
| 2005
| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic<br>Primary
|'''√ James Vacca 38.41%'''<br />Stephen Kaufman 25.70%<br />Joseph McManus 20.41%<br />Ismael Betancourt Jr. 10.15%<br />Egidio Sementilli 5.33%

|-
!['''NYC Council<br>District 13'''](/source/New_York_City_Council)
| 2005
| {{party shading/Hold}} |General
|'''√ James Vacca (D) 64.39%'''<br />Philip F. Foglia (R) 35.61%

|-
![NYC Council<br>District 13](/source/New_York_City_Council)
| 2009
| {{party shading/Hold}} |General
|'''√ James Vacca (D) 94.22%'''<br />Frank Dellavalle (Conservative) 5.78%

|-
![NYC Council<br>District 13](/source/New_York_City_Council)
| 2013
| {{party shading/Hold}} |General
|'''√ James Vacca (D) 83.23%'''<br />William Britt (R) 16.70%

|}

==See also==
* [LGBT culture in New York City](/source/LGBT_culture_in_New_York_City)
* [List of LGBT people from New York City](/source/List_of_LGBT_people_from_New_York_City)
* [NYC Pride March](/source/NYC_Pride_March)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://council.nyc.gov/district-13/ Official website]

{{S-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[Madeline Provenzano](/source/Madeline_Provenzano)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council), [13th district](/source/New_York_City's_13th_City_Council_district)|years=2006–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[Mark Gjonaj](/source/Mark_Gjonaj)}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vacca, James}}
Category:Living people
Category:New York City Council members
Category:Queens College, City University of New York alumni
Category:New York (state) Democrats
Category:1955 births
Category:American gay politicians
Category:American LGBTQ city council members
Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)
Category:Politicians from the Bronx
Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Vacca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Vacca) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Vacca?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.