Greenwich Village Street Renamed for Legendary Congresswoman Bella Abzug

In recognition of an outspoken champion for women’s right and progressive causes, the city is permanently renaming the southeast corner of Bank Street and Greenwich Avenue on Thursday as “Bella Abzug Way” – not far from the Bank Street home where she lived, worked and fought for nearly four decades. 

Abzug served three terms in Congress starting in 1971 representing Greenwich Village and parts of the West Side of Manhattan. She was also the first woman to run for the United States Senate in New York and for mayor of New York City.

Speaking at the first meeting of the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971, Abzug talked about transforming institutions of political power.

“Suppose that instead of just the 11 of us women in the House, there were more than 200. Instead of just one in the Senate, there were 50. And suppose that instead of only 12 blacks there were five times as many,” Abzug said.

Her record in the House reflected her commitment to lifting up marginalized groups. She introduced the first federal legislation to protect the civil rights of gay Americans, known as the Equality Act of 1974. She co-authored Title IX, a bill prohibiting sex discrimination at schools receiving federal funding. She even moved to impeach President Richard Nixon. 

She also made a plea for more women to get involved, “We have got to pour our organizing ability and energy into work to thrust women into political power. Push ‘em in there if necessary, at all levels of government.”

“My mother was prescient,” said Liz Abzug, who runs a leadership institute for young women and advocated for the street renaming. “She understood what was needed to get women elected and into top positions of political power.”

The renaming was approved by the local Community Board last October, and Thursday's ceremony, at 2 p.m. on the corner of Bank and Greenwich, nearly coincides with the 20th anniversary of Abzug's death. She died March 31, 1998, after complications from heart surgery. She was 77.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, whose district includes her block, said he was surprised a street wasn't already named for Abzug, calling her an icon, a firecracker, a feminist and a firebrand.

"She really called it like she saw it," said Johnson, "and was ahead of her time on so many issues that we are talking about today in 2018."