Brooklyn Lawmakers On Chisholm Getting Presidential Medal of Freedom
Among the people that President Obama awarded the country’s highest civilian award – the Presidential Medal of Freedom – last night was the late Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. First elected to Congress in 1969, Chisholm was the first black person elected to Congress from Brooklyn and the first black woman in the country elected to Congress. In 1972, she became the first woman to run for president, ultimately losing the nomination to George McGovern. Chisholm served in Congress until 1983, and died in 2005 at 80.
The following are some Brooklyn lawmakers comments on Chisholm, her life and her getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Flatbush Congresswoman Yvette Clarke: “Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, a woman of high distinction and profound conviction, remains an inspiration to me and to all individuals who want to create positive change in our civil society. I am honored to represent the Congressional District she represented from 1969 to 1983. Born in Brooklyn to a father from Guyana and a mother from Barbados, Congresswoman Chisholm entered public service as an early childhood education administrator. After she was elected to Congress in 1968, she used the authority of her experience to create nutrition assistance programs, expand health care services for parents and children, increase the minimum wage, support the veterans of our Armed Forces, and provide opportunities for women in college, graduate school, and collegiate and professional sports with the enactment of Title IX. In 1972, Congresswoman Chisolm, a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, entered the campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President, when there had never been a woman candidate for President in the Democratic Party or an African-American candidate in either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Let us find inspiration in her courage, as we honor her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award.”
Public Advocate and Former Fore Greene City Council Member Letitia James: “Shirley Chisholm has been a lifelong role model of mine. As the first black woman in Congress, she shattered ceilings and paved the way for women like to me to run for office. Shirley was a deeply compassionate woman and rare kind of politician who cared about doing what was right – not what was politically expedient. Her life and public service has been an inspiration to generations of leaders, and I am thrilled that she will rightfully receive our nation’s highest honor.”
Fort Greene Assemblyman Walter Mosley: “As I learned that Shirley Chisholm would be the recipient of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom award (posthumous), I could not help but think back on her life’s works. Shirley Chisholm’s story is the story of America, a daughter of immigrant parents coupled with an impoverished background she would go on and make history in 1968 by becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress.
“Never stopping in her push for social and economic justice, Congresswoman Chisholm went on to be the first major-party African-American candidate to make a bid for the U.S. presidency when she ran for the Democratic nomination in 1972. Her tireless advocacy for education equality and becoming an educator after her congressional career is an inspiration to myself and the next generation of civic leaders; we truly stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Flatlands City Councilman Jumaane Williams: “”Today, one of Brooklyn’s own has received the recognition she long ago earned, as President Barack Obama has awarded Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is no small victory that the first black President of the United States has recognized, through this award, someone who paved the way for his own election. Shirley Chisholm was a freedom fighter herself. She spent her career fighting for the rights of people of African descent to be treated with dignity and respect in every area of American life, and did so in the classy way that only Chisholm could.
Stringer To Hold Brooklyn Town Hall Meeting
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer will host a Brooklyn Town Hall from 7-9 p.m., on Thursday, December 3 at Brooklyn Music School, 126 Saint Felix Street in Fort Greene.
This is a general Town Hall, and all are welcome to attend and share their concerns and ideas with Stringer and his staff.
“The Brooklyn Town Hall will be a great opportunity to hold an open dialogue on the problems and issues that all New Yorkers face on a day-to-day basis and a chance to discuss real solutions,” said Stringer. “The event will be open to all, unfiltered, with no topic too big – or too small – to raise. So I’m asking Brooklynites to mark their calendars, and come out onDecember 3rd for what I know will be a great conversation.”
Golden Holds Free Mammogram Screenings
Bay Ridge State Senator Martin J. Golden announced a partnership with the American Italian Cancer Foundation to provide no cost digital mammograms and clinical breast exams at two events scheduled for the beginning of next month.
The Mobile Care Clinic will be outside office, 7408 5th Avenue on Wednesday, December 2, and then on Thursday, December 10 outside his office at 3604 Quentin Road. Both events are slated for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Women over the age of 40, who are New York City residents and have not had a mammogram in the past year, are encouraged to call 1-877-628-9090 for an appointment.
“I am proud to partner with the American Italian Cancer Foundation to make available free mammography screenings and bring public awareness to the importance of getting tested. All women are at risk of breast cancer and research shows that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. I encourage all those who have not had a mammogram in more than a year to make an appointment and get checked.”
For more information, contact Senator Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044.
Hamilton, Adams, Richardson Launch ‘ShopLocalCB9’
Central Brooklyn Senator Jesse Hamilton, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and Crown Heights/Lefferts Gardens Assemblywoman Diana Richardson will join in launching “ShopLocalCB9” at a press conference and kickoff at 11 a.m., this Saturday, November 28 at Brooklyn Community Board #9’s office, 890 Nostrand Avenue.
ShopLocalCB9 is a 2 ½ month program to promote small businesses for the 2015 holiday season sponsored by the Economic Development Committee of Brooklyn Community Board #9 in partnership with community partners including Hamilton, Richardson, PLS Financial, the Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association, and the Parkside Empire – Flatbush Avenue Merchants Association. About 150 small businesses are participating.
“We enjoy an impressive variety of local shops in our neighborhood. Their success is our success, their vitality is our neighborhood’s vitality. The unique combination of newer and older businesses is the result of creative entrepreneurs, who stand ready to help us with our gift giving needs this holiday season. Join me in patronizing these community businesses and supporting Shop Local,” said Hamilton.
Shop Local will encourage residents to support their local merchants by creating visibility and foot traffic through promotional decorations, seasonal giveaways, free beverages, food and seasonal activities on event days (planned for Nov. 28, Dec. 12, Dec. 13). The individual merchants will be offering promotions to the shoppers as well as a limited supply of reusable shopping bags. The program will be supported through print, media, the merchant associations, the merchants and CB9.
