In a major win for the South Queens community, local community leader George Russo, Esq., was appointed to the New York Racing Association (NYRA) Board of Directors, by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) upon the recommendation of Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato. Russo’s appointment gives the community a strong local voice on the Board that oversees thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major racetracks, Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

Russo graduated from St. John’s University in Queens in 1979 and then went on to obtain his law degree from New York Law School in 1982. He served as Assistant District Attorney for Queens County from 1983 to 1985, where he was chosen to be part of the Major Offense Prosecution Program, pursuing violent repeat offenders. Since 1985, Russo has been in private practice, specializing in real estate law, foreclosure, immigration law, and more. From 1983 through 1989, he served on the Community School Board for District 27, including a stint as President from 1985 – 1986. He has served on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens since 2001, serving as President from 2007 to 2014. He helped found and has served as co-President of the Intra-Community Civic Association since 2010.

“I can’t imagine a better person to represent our area on the NYRA Board than George Russo,” said Pheffer Amato. “I’ve been privileged to know and work with him in making our community better for everyone. I’m very excited for him to bring his caring, smarts and problem-solving abilities to bear on the many issues impacting the Aqueduct. I’d like to extend my thanks to Speaker Heastie for his vision for true community representation. I know that George will represent our state and our community well.”

“This is a true honor,” said Russo. “The Aqueduct is a vital piece of Queens’s economy, just as Belmont is for Long Island and Saratoga Springs is for the Capital District. It’s not a simple operation, but it’s a community institution and it’s one for which we need real caring and oversight. There are many things to gain from a strong partnership between NYRA and our communities, and I’m proud to be one of 17 directors tasked with making that happen. I’d like to thank Stacey, Speaker Heastie and the Assembly for their confidence, and I’m excited to get started.”