Monuments Honoring NYC Women Are in the Works

NYC politicians are asking citizens to help pick women whom they believe have positively influenced the history of New York City. Of those nominated, a select group will be chosen and voted on to see who deserves to be remembered with a public plaque, statue or monument. 

The idea was introduced this morning on New York 1 television by Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray. The project is called, "She Built NYC."

To be nominated, the historical movement or event must have occurred more than 20 years ago or the woman nominated for remembrance must no longer be alive. 

NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray was quoted in the New York Post saying, "This is a first step to creating a public art collection that more accurately represents the diversity of New York City's history." 

It's speculated that the idea was spawned from Mayor de Blasio's monument review committee, a group that worked through the latter months of 2017 researching public monuments and works of art throughout the five boroughs trying to determine if the works were in line with today's more progressive ways. 

Mayor de Blasio and the monument review committee had one statue from Central Park relocated to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and suggested having an indigenous people monument built in order to placate those residents who hoped to have the Christopher Columbus statue removed from Columbus Circle because of the explorer's harsh treatment of people native to the land.

Those wishing to nominate a person or event can submit ideas to women.nyc. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 1.


Photo Credit: Getty Images


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