Virginia Maloney Draws Political Power Elite to Swearing In Ceremony at Hunter College

NY’s finest - Three generations of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s family took center stage at Hunter College’s Assembly Hall on the last day of January this year for the ceremonial induction of her younger daughter Virginia Maloney as a representative of Manhattan’s 4th Council District in a ceremony conducted by NY’s Attorney General Tish James and emceed by Keith Powers. Virginia Maloney is the immediate successor to Powers, who would his own victory lap two days later when he was elected to the NYS Assembly. Virginia will be taking a seat held by her mom Carolyn Maloney from 1982 to 1992. Maloney, welcomed by the audience with a standing ovation, serves as the Eleanor Roosevelt Distinguished Leader in Residence at Roosevelt House, a public polity institute housed at FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt’s former NYC home.

It was a cold cold Sunday and the turnout of at least 600 strong braved the brrrrs and included a roster of the Who’s Who in NY and included Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Jerry Nadler, NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Comptroller Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Council Speaker Julie Menin, UES Assembly Members Rebecca Seawright and Alex Bores, newly elected City Council representative Harvey Epstein, and Virginia’s predecessors in her Council seat - Dan Garodnick, Ben Kallos, and Keith Powers. And, of course, Carolyn Maloney, who held the seat from 1982 to 1992 when she was elected to Congress for the next 30 years. From the call-out of names, seems like all members of the City Council were present in a tribute to their esteem for their newly elected colleague and to Speaker Menin who lauded Virginia for her commitment to public service. CD 4 residents, advocates, community leaders, representatives from government and the judiciary filled the auditorium, among others.

Presentation of the colors was made by the Knickerbocker Greys. The High School of Art & Design students and local Girl Scouts Troop led the Pledge of Allegiance and performed musical selections. FDNY Firefighter Regina Wilson sang the National Anthem and an interfaith invocation was given by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend Dr. Greg Stovell.

With her hand on the 200-year-old family Bible, brought to NY from Boston by her aunt, Virginia (Ginger) Lawrence, AG James administered the oath of office. After taking the oath, Virginia said, “This is truly a full-circle moment for me and my family. My great-grandmother fought alongside Alice Paul to secure the right to to vote. My grandmother sought to define her life beyond the home. My mother broke barriers for our generation. Now, as I join a majority-female City Council, I see the shoulders of these generations beneath me, and I am proud to carry their legacy forward alongside leaders like Julie Menin.”

Maloney also paid tribute to her late father Clifton H.W. Maloney, known in the UES community as Cliff, a Princeton and Harvard Business School graduate who served in the U.S. Navy, saying “He was deeply committed to community life, serving on local boards and championing quality-of-life issues. An avid athlete, he completed the NYC marathon 21 times and became the oldest American to summit one of the worlds 8,000-meter peaks.” Reflecting on her father’s example,” she continued, “He taught me to lead with discipline, curiosity and heart -- lessons I carry with me into this office.”

In that spirit, Maloney’s work has already begun. After the deeply disturbing incidents in which a vehicle was deliberately rammed into the Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn, and while no one was injured, the incident underscored the growing concerns confronting religious institutions citywide, with urgency for Jewish houses of worship facing rising threats of antisemitism and violence.

She introduced her first bill to strengthen emergency preparedness for religious institutions a/k/a Int 297, an important piece of legislation which would strengthen emergency preparedness for religious institutions across NYC, and ensuring houses of worship have access to guidance and support to prepare for threats of violence and other emergencies. Other legislation is in progress and Speaker Menin appointed Maloney chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Maloney represents CD4 which consists of the UES, Midtown, StuyTown-Peter Cooper Village, Murray Hill, Turtle Bay, the UN area. In one CD configuration or CD number, a Maloney has represented the district. Lucky us.

Another CD note - Before there was a City Council with a Maloney, like in the 1970s, there was Carter Burden who represented what was then CD 7 and consisting of what is now CD4 represented by CM Virginia Maloney.

Burden served from 1970 to 1977 when he ran unsuccessfully for what was then the office of City Council President. He died in 1996. He was 55. Belle Burden, Carter’s daughter, just wrote a book, “Strangers -- A Memoir of a Marriage.” Beautifully written, it’s a poignant and riveting read, and a look back to the Carter Burden years. I got my copy at the Barnes & Noble on 3rd Ave. and 87th St. in the upfront Local Sellers. On prior visits, it was sold out and I prefer buying books at bookstores.