K 504: Honoring Philip F. Foglia posthumously upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the New York Conference of Italian American Legislators on May 19, 2025

 Assembly Resolution No. 504 BY: M. of A. Morinello HONORING Philip F. Foglia posthumously upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the New York Conference of Italian American Legislators on May 19, 2025 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to individuals of purposeful character and unwavering dedication who devoted their lives to the defense of civil rights, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the service of their communities with integrity, compassion, and distinction; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Philip F. Foglia posthumously upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the New York Conference of Italian American Legislators on Monday, May 19, 2025; and WHEREAS, Philip F. Foglia, an esteemed attorney, accomplished prosecutor, civic activist, and tireless advocate for Italian-American rights, passed away on April 21, 2020, at the age of 69, due to complications from COVID-19; and WHEREAS, Born on November 27, 1950, and raised in the Belmont section of the Bronx, Philip Foglia was the son of a New York City police detective and was deeply shaped by the vibrant Italian-American community in which he was raised, instilling in him a lifelong commitment to identity, purpose, and justice; and WHEREAS, A proud graduate of Mount Saint Michael Academy, Lehman College, and Pace University School of Law, Philip F. Foglia began his distinguished legal career as a prosecutor in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, where he focused on public corruption cases with steadfast integrity; and WHEREAS, Recognized for his legal acumen and principled service, Philip F. Foglia was cross-designated as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he served in the Organized Crime and Public Corruption Strike Force under then-U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani during the 1980s; and WHEREAS, In 1988, Philip F. Foglia was appointed Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations in Queens County and later served as Special Counsel to the City of Yonkers, continuing his impactful work in public integrity and municipal oversight; and WHEREAS, In the private sector, Philip F. Foglia served as a partner in the firm of Culleton, Marinaccio & Foglia for 17 years, where he brought his formidable legal expertise to both private and public clients; and WHEREAS, As a senior official in the New York State Inspector General's Office, he played a vital role in exposing and addressing procurement irregularities in the Aqueduct Racetrack casino project, reinforcing standards of transparency and accountability in state contracting; and WHEREAS, A passionate advocate for civic engagement, Philip F. Foglia was also a political candidate, running for New York City Council in 2005 as a Republican, Conservative, and Independence Party nominee; and WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to preserving and defending Italian-American heritage, Philip F. Foglia founded and led the Italian-American Legal Defense and Higher Education Fund, was a founding board member of the Italian American Museum, and was an unrelenting voice against cultural stereotypes and historical omissions; and WHEREAS, Among his most celebrated contributions was his leadership in the successful campaign to erect a public statue honoring Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants; his advocacy was instrumental after the City of New York initially rejected the proposal despite overwhelming public support; and WHEREAS, With the backing of the Governor of the State of New York, a state commission was formed to realize the monument, and Philip F. Foglia was appointed a member of the commission, marking the culmination of his decades-long devotion to justice, dignity, and the immigrant experience in New York; and WHEREAS, Philip Foglia's life and legacy are emblematic of the values held by this Legislative Body-devotion to community, a fierce commitment to equality and justice, and pride in heritage-and his contributions will be remembered for generations to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to posthumously honor Philip F. Foglia upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the New York Conference of Italian American Legislators on May 19, 2025, and to celebrate his enduring contributions to the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Philip F. Foglia.