Anthony Costanza Irondequoit interview highlights a results-first blueprint: legal clarity on a prosecutor’s information (not a grand-jury indictment), assessment reform to stop overtaxing working families, and proven stewardship, including an 11% assessor budget cut and a pledged 10% pay cut as supervisor. He calls for strict FOIL timelines, data-driven public safety with equal enforcement, lawful K-1 immigration, and predictable, by-right growth around the bay, river, and lake. The throughline is simple: facts over headlines, transparent metrics, and service before self.
The moment demanded backbone, and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Anthony Costanza brought it. An immigrant son who wore the uniform, led in Special Operations, earned a TS/SCI, chose custody of his child over another promotion, and now walks the legal K-1 visa path with his fiancée because law and order are not suggestions. That is the standard.
The record, clean and cold: no grand-jury indictment. A former DA filed a prosecutor’s information. The grand jury did not indict. His counsel issued a cease-and-desist. A motion to dismiss was filed on July 29. Words matter because lies travel on headlines and ruin men by design.
He put the assessor’s office under the same light he puts on himself. Independent third-party appraisals for his own property to remove discretion. Later appraisals showed it was overvalued by about $30,000. In six weeks he delivered a 30-page report showing how lower and middle-income families were overassessed while high-end properties slid. Then he cut the department budget by 11%. Stewardship is not a slogan. It is work.
He pledged a 10% pay cut as supervisor because reform starts at the top. He demanded FOIL responses instead of stonewalling. On safety, he refused theatrics: listen to subject-matter experts, enforce the law equally, and keep families safe. On governance, he rejected the whisper network that strangles small business and tells citizens to wait their turn while permits gather dust.
Irondequoit is diverse, heavily taxed, and tired of curated outrage. Costanza is on the doors in 14609 and across the town because trust is earned face to face, not in press releases. Debate challenges are open. Adults face questions. Keyboard warriors do not run communities.
One line from the show said the quiet part out loud: “Nowadays, exposing evil is considered more evil than those who actually do evil.” If that unsettles you, good. Conscience confirmed.
Listen. Share. Then demand what you would teach your own children: truth before comfort, service before self, and equal justice without exceptions. That is how a town regains its integrity. That is how a nation remembers who it is.
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Podcast Transcript: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Anthony Costanza – Service Before Self
Peter Vazquez:
Okay, Bob, I couldn’t help myself. So join me here. I know. It’s okay. Pero baila conmigo, Papa! Listen, ladies and gentlemen, wherever you are—stop for a second. It’s midweek. Shake it off. Dance it off.
Bob:
I can’t, Peter. Every time I do, I get tangled up in the headphone cord, it starts choking me, I turn colors, and then I fall to the floor.
Peter:
You turned purple?
Bob:
Funny for you, but not for me! See the things I do to bring this show to you folks?
Peter:
That’s the spirit! You can’t be stopped from bringing the voice of liberty to people. You went from when I started on WYSL to now being on six signals. Talk about growth—that’s the American way.
Now, check this out. I’ve got to bring something up because it disturbed me deeply. In our nation today, we’re idolizing evil. And it drives me crazy. Listen to this: someone posted, “You will never be forgotten. As your daughter once said, your life changed the world by forcing it to confront the illness called American structural and institutional racism.”
They were talking about George Floyd. And then they compared him to Charlie Kirk because they share the same birthday. Folks, who does that?
Bob:
There are people out there who’ll do anything for attention. That’s why we’ve got Antifa and, as I like to call it, “Buying Large Mansions”—Black Lives Matter. It’s incredible that they lionize a violent felon who once held a gun to a pregnant woman’s belly. That’s the role model they give our young people?
Peter:
Exactly. It’s madness. I saw that post and thought, you know what, these people are out of their minds. But like I’ve said many times, the solution is simple. Vote, speak up, and stand for truth. It’s not about you—it’s about America, our kids, and our grandkids.
The lines are open—585-346-3000, 866-552-1009. And you’ll want to listen carefully today, because we’re confronting a collision between politics, principles, and perception right here in Irondequoit, New York.
Today, we’re joined by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Anthony Costanza, Republican candidate for Irondequoit Town Supervisor.
Peter:
Anthony, welcome to The Next Steps Show.
Anthony Costanza:
Thank you for having me, Peter.
Peter:
Can we do the whole show in Spanish?
Anthony:
I’m Italian—but hey, Spanish and Italian are pretty close!
Peter:
Fair enough. When I was stationed in Germany, I traveled through Italy and survived three days speaking Spanish. But man, when Italians start talking fast—it’s over.
Anthony:
Same for me in Puerto Rico. They start talking fast, and I’m like, “Wait a minute—start over in English!”
Peter:
(Laughs) Absolutely. Now, before we get into politics, I have to say—thank you for your service, sir. Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. We need more people who understand God, country, and family. Tell us who you are and what made you the man you are today.
Anthony:
Both my parents were Italian immigrants. I spent my early years between Italy and America. We finally settled here when I was ten. My parents taught me old-school values—work hard, don’t cheat, don’t lie, get an education, and whatever you want in life, earn it. Those lessons fit perfectly in the military.
Peter:
You’re a father too, right?
Anthony:
Yes, I am. And soon-to-be a stepdad. My fiancée is currently overseas, and we’re going through the legal K-1 visa process to bring her here the right way. It’s long, expensive, but worth it. There’s a right way and a wrong way to come to America, and I’m determined to be an example of doing it right.
Peter:
Amen to that. My brother’s doing the same with his wife from the Dominican Republic. It’s long, but when they raise their right hands and say “We are Americanos,” it means something. That’s what this country is about—doing it right.
Now, let’s get right into it. Earlier this year, news broke that you were “indicted” by then-Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley. But you say that’s not true. What happened?
Anthony:
Right—let’s clear that up. I was never indicted by a grand jury. What happened was, Sandra Doorley filed what’s called a Prosecutor’s Information—not an indictment. The media used the wrong term, and words matter. An indictment means a grand jury found probable cause to proceed. That never happened.
My opponent has been told, in writing, to stop using the word “indicted.” A cease-and-desist has been issued.
Peter:
And that’s critical. Because people read headlines, not details. So, let’s make it clear—no indictment.
Anthony:
Exactly. The allegation was “official misconduct,” claiming I didn’t have authority to assess my own home. But I consulted with the New York State Office of Real Property Services before doing anything. They confirmed I had full authority as the sole assessor. So how is it misconduct if it was within my job description?
Peter:
So, no crime, no grand jury, and a case that looks politically motivated.
Anthony:
That’s right. And to this day, there’s no conviction, no wrongdoing. Just politics.
Peter:
Let’s talk about the big picture. You’re running against John Perticone, who’s been on the town board for years. What’s going on with these attacks?
Anthony:
Fear. When you expose what’s wrong, people get scared. Early in my tenure, I produced a 30-page report documenting major issues within the assessor’s office. Instead of fixing them, the board turned on me. I became the black sheep because I was honest.
Peter:
That’s what happens when integrity meets politics.
Anthony:
Exactly. But I’m not backing down. I’m running on results—facts, transparency, and fairness.
Peter:
Let’s get specific. You said when you took over as assessor, you found thousands of errors. You corrected them. You even used independent third-party appraisals on your own home to avoid bias, and later discovered your home was overvalued by about $30,000.
Anthony:
Correct. I used no discretion, no favoritism—only data. And I applied that same fairness to everyone else.
Peter:
And you also cut your department’s budget by 11%, correct?
Anthony:
Yes. Efficiency matters. Taxpayers deserve government that spends as if every dollar came out of their pocket.
Peter:
And you’ve pledged a 10% pay cut as supervisor.
Anthony:
Yes. Symbolic, but meaningful. If I’m asking others to sacrifice, I start with myself.
Peter:
That’s leadership. So, what’s your plan for Irondequoit?
Anthony:
Fair and equal taxation. Accurate assessments. Transparency through consistent FOIL responses. Better communication between government and citizens. And accountability—always.
Peter:
You’ve also said you’ll base safety decisions on expert advice, not politics.
Anthony:
Absolutely. Law enforcement knows what they need. My job is to listen, support them, and enforce the law equally.
Peter:
That’s refreshing. Now, Irondequoit has unique challenges—diversity, high taxes, and underused assets. You’ve said the town is “stuck in the ’90s.”
Anthony:
It is. We have a lake, a river, and a bay—natural assets that could drive business and tourism. But red tape and politics keep progress frozen. Small businesses take years to get approvals. That has to change.
Peter:
So, you’re calling for predictable, fair permitting—no insider deals, no favoritism.
Anthony:
Exactly. I represent the 95%, not the elite 5%. My job is to make sure government works for everyone.
Peter:
I like that. And let’s be honest—people are tired of excuses. They want transparency, fairness, and results.
Anthony:
That’s why I’m running. I’ve managed billions in federal programs, led thousands of personnel, and produced measurable results everywhere I’ve served. Irondequoit deserves the same.
Peter:
Before we close, let’s clear something up for everyone listening. There’s been confusion about what a prosecutor’s information is versus an indictment.
Anthony:
Yes. A prosecutor’s information is a simple filing by a DA. It does not involve a grand jury. It’s not a criminal indictment. And I’ve already filed a motion to dismiss based on insufficiency of evidence.
Peter:
And for the record, Sandra Doorley, who filed it, resigned under pressure after multiple scandals. The timing says a lot.
Anthony:
It does. But I’m not focused on revenge—I’m focused on serving the people and restoring trust.
Peter:
That’s the right attitude.
Anthony:
I’ll say this, Peter: nowadays, exposing evil is considered more evil than doing it. But I’m not afraid to call it out.
Peter:
Powerful words.
Anthony:
I’m not running to be popular. I’m running to make this town accountable again.
Peter:
And that’s why this conversation matters. Ladies and gentlemen, you just heard a man willing to put service before self, truth before comfort, and duty before politics.
Anthony, any last thoughts?
Anthony:
Yes. I want voters to ask themselves one question—do they want 17 more years of the same, or do they want someone with the courage to fix it? I’m here to serve all residents, not a party or a faction. Service before self. Always.
Peter:
Beautifully said. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Anthony Costanza—candidate for Irondequoit Town Supervisor. Thank you for your service, your integrity, and your time.
Anthony:
Thank you, Peter. And thank you to the people listening. God bless America, and God bless Irondequoit.
Peter:
And remember, folks—leadership isn’t proven when times are easy. It’s proven when the world questions your integrity and you still choose truth. Be a voice for liberty. Take your next step.
