Roll-down metal security gates were officially outlawed in the city today, more than a decade after they were first targeted by "a young political upstart named Anthony Weiner," according to an article today by Alex Katz at the New York Daily News.

"In an odd twist, the councilman who ultimately succeed in banning the gates is now a possible contender to replace Weiner in Washington," the article said. Peter Vallone (D.-Queens) notes that he had the political muscle to banish the security gates that his predecessor lacked. "As politically savvy as [Weiner might have been, he couldn't get this done," Vallone said.

Weiner was an ambitious 32-year-old councilman in 1996 when he first proposed legislation to abolish the ubiqitous, often graffiti-covered gates that protect storefronts across the city.

The Queens councilman yesterday trumpeted the new gate law, which was passed by the Council in 2009 and goes into effect Friday. From now on, all new roll-down gates must provide at least 70% visibility through the storefront window, though existing solid gates won't have to be replaced until 2026.

"When the police or firefighters roll up to a place at 2 A.M. to respond to a call, they'll be able to know right away whether a cat set off the alarm or whether there's a guy in there with a machine gun," said Vallone, who chairs the Council's Public Safety Committee.

Some New Yorkers cheered the new law but small business owners grumbled about the expense of the $10,000 gates.

"This doesn't even make sense," said Joshua Shayes, who owns the Golden House jewelry store in lower Manhattan and says the new gates aren't as secure as the old ones, the article said, adding that Vallone says the benefits outweigh the cost.

"Of all the bills I've been part of, this one will have the biggest impact on New York City," he said, adding: "Maybe I'll make it part of my platform if I run for Congress."