The main post office in Long Island City is one-step closer to being named after former Queens Congressmember and the first female Demorcatic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.
The legislation, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed recently, would rename the post office located at 46-02 21st Street in Long Island City after Ferraro, who represented areas including Long Island City in Congress for many years.
“A trailblazer, role model and leader, Geraldine Ferraro has been a pivotal figure in American history,” said Queens Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, who introduced the legislation in the House earlier this year. “The Long Island City Post Office is a grand building and a fitting edifice for an extraordinary woman.”
Ferraro first entered Congress as a representative of western Queens in 1978, and during her time in office, she served on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, among other committee assignments.
“I’m honored and humbled that the House voted to name a post office after me, particularly one in my former district in Long Island City,” Ferraro said. “Through my service on the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee, I saw firsthand that few functions of the federal government are as important as delivering the mail.”
After only a few years in office, Democratic nominee for President Walter Mondale tapped her as his Vice Presidential nominee. Ferraro became the first female Democratic Vice President nominee in the history of the United States.
“Following the path of women who came before her, Geraldine Ferraro has helped pave the way for our daughters to achieve anything they set their minds to,” said current Queens Congressmember and head of the Queens County Democratic Organization Joseph Crowley. “As the current Representative of her former district, I am proud to call Geraldine Ferraro a leader, a mentor and most importantly a friend.”
It is now up to the Senate to act on the legislation, and, if the Senate passes the bill, President Barack Obama would then sign the bill into law – officially changing the name in Ferraro’s honor.
