New York Desk

Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. has been sued for sponsoring anti-graffiti legislation. His response has been to make his proposals even tougher. Undeterred by a federal lawsuit filed last month by fashion designer Marc Ecko, Mr. Vallone, a Democrat of Queens, said he plans to introduce a bill next week that would make it a crime to possess glass-etching acid without a license from the city. The proposal, he said, would crack down even further on graffiti vandalism by banning the potent substance often used to deface windows on the subway. “There doesn’t appear to be any legitimate need for this hazardous material,” Mr. Vallone said. Under his proposal, the Department of Consumer Affairs would regulate possession of the acid. Applicants for licenses would have to be “of good character” and would be subject to fingerprinting and a criminal background check. Violators would be subject to fines and up to three months in jail. Mr. Ecko’s attorney, Daniel Perez, yesterday called the new proposal “dead on arrival” and said Mr. Vallone was merely trying to lay the groundwork for a rumored run for Queens district attorney.