Frank Morano

Frank Morano (born 1984/1985) is an American radio host and politician serving as a member of the New York City Council for the 51st district. He was elected in a 2025 special election to succeed Joe Borelli, who resigned to join the private sector. A Republican, his district includes the South Shore of Staten Island.^[1][2]

Morano was born on Staten Island to parents who moved there from Brooklyn.^[3]

Morano began his broadcasting career as a teenager. At age 16, he launched Morano Vision, a public-access television program that focused on politics and current affairs. The show featured interviews with local elected officials and controversial public figures, and helped establish Morano’s early presence in Staten Island political media.^[4]

In 2017, Morano served as a producer of Get Me Roger Stone, a documentary film examining the life and career of Republican political strategist Roger Stone. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released globally by Netflix, and was described by Variety as "lively, fun, sickening and essential".^[5]

Morano hosted The Answer on WNYM (AM 970), where he was described by City & State as “the people’s talk show host” and hosted a weekly Sunday morning program.^[6]

While hosting a talk radio program on AM 970 in 2012, Morano received tabloid attention after conducting on-air interviews with Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli, an accused Colombo crime family figure who called into the program from jail while awaiting trial. The interviews were reported by The New York Post as an unusual example of a pretrial detainee appearing live on a radio talk show.^[7]

In July 2020, Morano joined WABC, where he hosted a local midday program on WLIR-FM and a Sunday evening show, later launching a weekday overnight program. In October 2020, the overnight show premiered as The Other Side of Midnight, replacing the syndicated Red Eye Radio on WABC’s lineup.^[8]

During Morano’s 2025 City Council campaign, his programs were pulled from WABC due to federal equal-time requirements, though The Other Side of Midnight continued in syndication. After the election, Morano formally departed the station, with radio host Lionel succeeding him as host of The Other Side of Midnight.^[9]

Morano has been active in Staten Island and New York City politics for many years prior to holding elected office. He has been affiliated with a number of conservative and populist political organizations and minor parties, and has frequently participated in intraparty debates over ballot access, endorsements, and party governance.

In the mid-2000s, Morano served as a member of the executive committee of the New York State Independence Party. In 2008, he was quoted by The New York Observer as an Independence Party official commenting on the political future of then–Representative Vito Fossella amid personal controversies, reflecting his early involvement in borough-level political discourse.^[10]

Morano later became involved with the Reform Party of New York State. After being elected to the party’s state committee in 2016, he drew criticism from elements of the party establishment for declining to grant Wilson–Pakula authorizations to cross-endorse candidates and instead forcing low-turnout primary elections. Reporting at the time described internal disputes over party governance, including a vote in which Morano and his allies supported the selection of Curtis Sliwa as state party chair and Morano as party secretary.^[11]

Prior to his election to the City Council, Morano worked in Staten Island Republican politics, including employment in the office of City Councilmember Joe Borelli.^[12]

During the 2025 special election campaign, one of Morano’s campaign lawn signs was vandalized with graffiti comparing him to a Nazi. The incident was reported by The New York Post amid a broader series of vandalism incidents targeting Republican individuals and organizations across New York State. Morano stated that he believed the vandalism was politically motivated and criticized the use of Nazi imagery in political discourse.^[13]

In a 2025 interview with The New York Times, Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa described Morano as a protégé and characterized him as a populist figure within Staten Island politics, listing him among elected officials he viewed as ideologically aligned.^[14]

In September 2013, Morano was appointed to Staten Island Community Board 3 after a multi-year effort to secure a seat.^[15] His appointment followed changes in eligibility after he left the executive committee of the New York State Independence Party, which had previously made him ineligible under a borough policy barring party officers from serving on community boards. Morano criticized the policy as overly restrictive but ultimately declined to pursue legal action and instead sought appointment after leaving party leadership. Upon joining the board, he was assigned to the Traffic and Transportation Committee and stated that addressing chronic traffic issues on Staten Island’s South Shore would be a top priority.

In 2024, while serving as a member of Community Board 3 and prior to holding elected office, Morano raised concerns regarding the board’s governance practices, including its reliance on fully virtual meetings, the availability of meeting recordings, notice of executive sessions, and the process used to hire a new district manager.^[16] In September 2024, Vito Fossella, the Borough President of Staten Island, and City Councilmembers Joseph Borelli and David Carr requested guidance from the New York City Law Department on whether Community Board 3’s actions complied with state and city law.^[17] Morano was not a signatory to the request but had previously raised similar procedural concerns in his capacity as a community board member.

In November 2024, the New York City Law Department issued a formal determination finding that Community Board 3 had violated certain provisions of the New York State Open Meetings Law and city hiring requirements, including rules governing public posting of job openings and public access to meeting recordings.^[18] The department recommended corrective actions and stated that it would provide continued guidance to ensure compliance going forward.

In February 2025, the longtime chair of Community Board 3 resigned amid ongoing disputes with borough and city officials over governance and compliance issues.^[19] In the months that followed, several Community Board 3 members were not reappointed as part of a broader restructuring overseen by the borough president’s office.

After being elected to the New York City Council later in 2025, Morano advocated for changes to the New York City Charter that would grant City Council members binding appointment authority for a portion of community board seats. He argued that the reform would increase accountability, transparency, and local representation, particularly in cases where community board governance had become the subject of sustained public concern.^[20]

In 2025, Morano was elected to the New York City Council for the 51st district in a special election to replace Joe Borelli, who resigned to join the private sector. Morano amassed endorsements from Borelli, U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, Councilmember David Carr, The New York Post, and the Staten Island Republican Party among others.^[21] He was declared the winner on election night, defeating Democrat Cliff Hagen and Griffin Fossella, son of Borough President Vito Fossella, with 59% of the vote according to unofficial results.^[1] He will serve the remainder of Borelli's term and run for re-election in November for a full term.^[2] He was sworn in on May 13, 2025 by City Clerk Michael McSweeney.^[22]

In July 2025, Morano participated in a news conference in Tottenville supporting residents whose pet pygmy pig, Lucy, faced removal by city health officials following a complaint that farm animals were being kept illegally as pets. The case drew widespread local attention and prompted public appeals from the family and community members. Mayor Eric Adams subsequently announced that the city would not take punitive action against the family and allowed the animal to remain temporarily in the home. The episode was covered by The New York Times as an example of constituent advocacy and neighborhood response to city enforcement actions.^[23]

In September 2025, Morano publicly opposed a proposed commercial motor freight station along Arthur Kill Road in the Charleston section of Staten Island at a Community Board 3 meeting, where the board ultimately voted to reject the application. The project, which would have accommodated approximately 180 tractor-trailers per day, drew opposition from residents and elected officials over concerns related to traffic congestion, environmental impact, and proximity to nearby parkland. In January 2026, the New York City Department of City Planning confirmed that the project had been placed on hold after the applicant paused advancement in order to address community board concerns. Morano criticized the proposal for proceeding without a transportation or environmental impact study, stating that Arthur Kill Road and the Outerbridge Crossing were already operating at or near capacity, and described the corridor as an example of overdevelopment without adequate infrastructure planning.^[24]

In 2025, Morano proposed a citywide initiative to fly each of New York City’s five borough flags at City Hall on a rotating monthly basis, arguing that the practice would promote civic pride and awareness of borough history. He formally requested the change in a letter to Mayor Eric Adams and linked the initiative to his legislation, Introduction 1388, which sought to codify the official flag of Staten Island in the city’s Administrative Code. In October 2025, Staten Island’s flag was raised at City Hall for the first time in city history under a new borough flag rotation program, with Staten Island leading off. The initiative and its implementation were reported by the Staten Island Advance.^[25][26]

In December 2025, Morano called on Mayor Eric Adams to veto the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), a bill passed by the City Council that would grant certain nonprofit organizations a first opportunity to purchase designated distressed residential properties before they are offered on the open market. Morano criticized the legislation as an interference with private property rights that could deter investment and delay transactions, and argued that it would reduce housing supply.^[27]

In January 2026, Morano was among three Republican members of the City Council who publicly urged Council Speaker Julie Menin to serve as a counterbalance to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In reporting on the council’s early dynamics, The New York Times quoted Morano saying that nearly one million New Yorkers had voted for “something different” and that those voters were counting on the City Council and its leadership to “be a voice for them.”^[28]

In January 2026, Morano was profiled by City & State as part of its overview of newly elected New York City Council members. In the feature, he discussed his Staten Island roots, constituent priorities, and legislative goals, including advancing guardianship reform, fertility treatment access, and efforts to codify the Staten Island borough flag in city law.^[29]

On January 15, 2026, Morano was appointed chair of the New York City Council Committee on Veterans for the new Council term.^[30][31]

During his first eight months in office, Morano was the primary sponsor of legislative proposals and resolutions addressing election reform, employment policy, public health, transportation, governance, and community recognition.^[32]

In August 2025, Morano joined fellow council members at a City Hall rally calling for passage of Intro. 0967, known as Ryder’s Law, which would end New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry. Reporting in amNewYork, Morano was quoted saying, “The streets are no place for horses. We need to do something now.”^[33]

In November 2025, Morano introduced legislation aimed at expanding the ability of drivers on Staten Island to make right turns at red lights following a complete stop. The bill, Intro 1469, would require the New York City Department of Transportation to conduct borough-wide studies evaluating the safety and feasibility of permitting right-on-red turns at signalized intersections, taking into account pedestrian safety, cyclists, large vehicle traffic, congestion, and environmental impacts. The proposal was referred to the City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and received bipartisan support from fellow Staten Island councilmembers David Carr and Kamillah Hanks.^[34]

In December 2025, Morano introduced legislation that would establish nonpartisan, ranked-choice elections for all municipal offices in New York City, including mayor, public advocate, borough president, and City Council. The Staten Island Advance reported that the change would require voter approval through a citywide referendum.^[35]

Morano also proposed legislation aimed at regulating artificial intelligence chatbot services operating in New York City. The proposal would require AI chatbot providers to obtain a city license and implement consumer disclosures and safeguards. The New York Post reported that Morano said the proposal was motivated by concerns about reported cases involving prolonged chatbot use and mental health crises.^[36]

Morano also introduced measures related to health and family policy, including legislation on traumatic brain injuries and concussions, paid leave for certain city employees who serve as living organ or bone marrow donors, and other proposals involving family benefits and public outreach.^[32]

Additional legislation sponsored by Morano included proposals related to transportation and municipal operations, such as requirements for AM broadcast receivers in certain city vehicles, exemptions from containerization requirements for certain mixed-use buildings, codifying the official flag of the borough of Staten Island, and establishing a guardianship reform commission.^[32]

In January 2026, Morano criticized the city’s rollout of mandatory residential trash containers after delivery delays and reports that a contracted vendor struggled to fulfill orders. Speaking to the Staten Island Advance, Morano said he raised concerns with the Department of Sanitation and sought clarity on enforcement timing, refunds, and delivery status, particularly for residents who had paid without receiving bins.^[37] He also told the New York Post that residents should not be penalized when bins were unavailable.^[38]

In March 2026, Morano held a press conference outside City Hall highlighting continued delivery delays affecting homeowners who had ordered the required containers but had not yet received them. Morano called for an investigation into the delivery process, refunds for affected residents, and a pause on fines until all ordered bins were delivered.^[39] Reporting by Gothamist noted that Morano said roughly 150 of his constituents had contacted his office about missing bins and warned that residents risked being fined once enforcement began if delivery delays were not resolved.^[40]

In March 2026, Morano joined Councilmembers David Carr and Kamillah Hanks in raising concerns about the resumption of fines under the city’s mandatory composting program. In a joint letter to city officials, the lawmakers said that while they supported composting efforts, the renewed enforcement risked penalizing residents who had not received sufficient notice or guidance. They called on the city to prioritize public education and outreach before expanding enforcement measures.^[41]

In January 2026, Morano assisted families displaced by a three-alarm residential fire in the Great Kills neighborhood of Staten Island. The Staten Island Advance reported that his office coordinated with city agencies to help secure emergency housing and organized a gift-card drive for affected residents.^[42]

In February 2026, Morano spent a day serving as “principal for the day” at Eden II Programs’ Little Miracles Preschool, a Staten Island nonprofit that provides services to children and adults with autism. According to the Staten Island Advance, Morano participated in classroom activities and met with administrators to discuss the need for expanded specialized early-childhood education services on Staten Island’s South Shore. The visit was part of Eden II’s 50th-anniversary celebrations and highlighted advocacy efforts for increased preschool access for children with developmental disabilities.^[43]

Following winter storms in early 2026, Morano called for clearer inter-agency coordination on snow removal. Reporting in the Staten Island Advance said he urged the city to establish a “map of responsibility” identifying which agencies or entities are responsible for clearing snow at locations such as bus stops, park-and-ride facilities, and other areas where jurisdiction can be unclear.^[44] Separate reporting in the New York Post described Morano as criticizing what he characterized as ambiguous snow-removal rules and delays in clearing certain areas near hospitals and transit facilities.^[45][46]

In February 2026, Morano’s office assisted a Staten Island resident whose vehicle was mistakenly impounded while crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The Staten Island Advance reported that staff contacted MTA Bridges and Tunnels, which acknowledged the error and allowed the vehicle to be retrieved.^[47]

In March 2026, Morano joined Councilmembers David Carr and Kamillah Hanks in announcing $2.9 million in city funding to support the renovation of a GRACE Foundation facility into a culinary training center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project, funded through discretionary council allocations, aims to provide job training, workforce development, and entrepreneurial support through a commercial kitchen and incubator program. Speaking at the announcement, Morano described the funding as an investment that would help participants develop job skills and contribute to the local economy.^[48]

In February 2026, Morano criticized Mayor Mamdani’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 preliminary budget, which included the possibility of a property tax increase if alternative revenue proposals were not approved. Speaking to the Staten Island Advance, Morano questioned changing budget-gap projections and warned that raising property taxes would place additional burdens on homeowners in outer-borough communities.^[49] In a subsequent opinion column published in the Staten Island Advance, Morano argued that the city could close its budget gap through spending restraint and efficiency measures rather than tax increases, proposing steps such as a hiring freeze for non-essential administrative positions, reductions in consultant spending, improved collection of unpaid fines and fees, and the leasing or repurposing of underutilized city property.^[50]

In February 2026, Morano criticized Mamdani’s decision to discontinue plans to hire an additional 5,000 New York City Police Department officers, calling the move a “dangerous mistake,” and argued that reducing planned hiring could weaken public safety.^[51]

In February 2026, after a major blizzard, Morano criticized the decision to reopen public schools for in-person learning in parts of Staten Island, citing low attendance and transportation and accessibility issues, including at special-needs schools.^[52] The New York Post also reported Morano as criticizing the decision and advocating for greater local flexibility for school operations following severe weather.^[53] In a televised interview on Spectrum News NY1, Morano described the storm’s impact on Staten Island as a “disaster” and again called for improved storm preparation and greater local autonomy for decisions such as shifting to remote learning.^[54] A subsequent New York Post report cited Department of Education attendance data showing higher student absenteeism on Staten Island than other boroughs and quoted Morano describing the decision not to shift to remote learning as a major failure.^[55]

In March 2026, Morano criticized Mamdani’s rollout of a pilot program for free childcare for two-year-olds after Staten Island was excluded from the first phase. The Staten Island Advance reported that the initial program offered approximately 2,000 seats in five council districts outside Staten Island. Morano argued that Staten Island families were being overlooked and raised concerns about expanding the program before addressing staffing and compensation issues affecting teachers in existing early-childhood programs.^[56]

In March 2026, Morano criticized Mayor Mamdani’s plan to expand the use of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as part of a broader housing initiative. Speaking to WABC-TV, Morano said that while increasing housing supply could be beneficial, the plan failed to account for infrastructure needs in low-density neighborhoods, arguing that additional investments in sewers, schools, sidewalks, and traffic mitigation should precede efforts to increase residential density.^[57]

In March 2026, Morano criticized Mayor Mamdani’s decision to end criminal summonses for certain low-level traffic violations committed by cyclists and e-bike riders, replacing them with civil penalties. As part of a statement issued by the City Council’s Common Sense Caucus, Morano argued that the change reduced accountability for unsafe riding behavior and could negatively impact pedestrian and motorist safety, particularly in areas experiencing increased e-bike traffic.^[58]

In March 2026, Morano opposed a city plan to construct a 160-bed men’s homeless shelter on Arthur Kill Road in the Richmond Valley section of Staten Island. Speaking at a news conference at the proposed site, Morano argued that the location lacked adequate mass transit, hospitals, and social services needed to support shelter residents and said the proposal was “out of step with the character of this neighborhood.” He said his opposition was directed at the siting of the facility rather than individuals experiencing homelessness and called for discussions about alternative locations better connected to employment and services.^[59]

In a March 5, 2026 letter to New York City Social Services Commissioner Erin Dalton, Morano joined Assemblymember Michael Reilly, State Senator Andrew Lanza, and U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis in urging the city to reconsider the shelter proposal. The lawmakers questioned whether the Arthur Kill Road site was appropriate for helping residents rebuild their lives and cited limited access to public transportation, concerns about safety and nearby small businesses, and what they described as insufficient community engagement regarding the project.^[60]

Later in March 2026, Morano alleged that the city was using a zoning classification as a “transient hotel” to advance the project as-of-right without undergoing a full public land-use review process. He argued that the development was effectively being planned as a homeless shelter and that the approach limited transparency and community input. City officials disputed this characterization, stating that they had been clear about the project and remained committed to engaging with the community.^[61]

Later that month, Morano joined residents and local officials at a rally opposing the project, where more than 50 community members gathered to protest the proposed shelter. Speaking at the event, Morano said he supported helping individuals experiencing homelessness but argued that the Richmond Valley location was unsuitable due to its low-density residential character and lack of nearby support services.^[62]

In March 2026, Morano commented on efforts by the City Council Ethics Committee to censure Councilmember Vickie Paladino over social media posts that other council members characterized as Islamophobic. Morano said he found the posts “awful” and “vile,” but argued Paladino was entitled to the same First Amendment protections as other Americans.^[63]

In March 2026, Morano joined other Staten Island Republican elected officials at a news conference outside the Staten Island Courthouse after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an effort to redraw the borough’s congressional district lines. Speaking at the event, Morano cited Justice Samuel Alito’s concurring opinion and criticized attempts to alter district boundaries on racial grounds, arguing that such approaches risked undermining constitutional protections and creating instability in the redistricting process.^[64]

In March 2026, Morano criticized Mayor Mamdani’s decision to host pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil at an iftar dinner at Gracie Mansion. Speaking to amNewYork, Morano argued that the mayor should instead have recognized two New York City Police Department officers who had recently helped prevent a bombing attempt near the residence, calling them “heroes” who deserved the spotlight at the mayor’s residence.^[65]

In November 2025, Morano revived the Judge Robert Gigante Memorial Teddy Bear Drive, a longstanding Staten Island charitable initiative that collects new teddy bears for children facing cancer and other serious illnesses. The annual drive, originally founded by the late Judge Robert Gigante, distributes donations through local hospitals, preschools, and community organizations across the borough.^[66]

In January 2026, Morano announced the winner of the inaugural South Shore Best Decorated House Contest, a holiday-themed district initiative that invited residents to nominate and vote on seasonal home displays. The contest was reported by the Staten Island Advance as a neighborhood-based effort to encourage community participation and civic pride.^[67]

In February 2026, Morano’s office announced a community-wide snowman-building contest during a winter storm, inviting families to submit photos of snowmen for a prize connected to his Movies in the Park programming.^[68]