Despite the frigid weather and strong winds, the rapper, born Belcalis Almanzar, is focused on getting the perfect shot. on a frigid mid-March morning, a small team of photographers, crew, glam, editors and a publicist huddle outside on Edge’s observation deck in 34-degree temperatures as Cardi poses for pictures. “The ones that pay the price are New Yorkers.At 4 a.m. Gjonaj said, “This mayor continues to lead from behind. “But I suspect more about the administration lacking the currency, competence and conviction to proceed on a statue plan we can all agree on.” Morris lamented that She Built NYC was an opportunity “to do something affirmative and to do it with positive things, not just negative things.”Ĭity Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island), a member of the body’s cultural committee, added, “If this was about getting a Shirley Chisholm statue, fantastic, she deserves it. In fact, last month, an independent group, Monumental Women, followed through with its plan to erect a monument honoring the suffragist movement in Central Park despite the pandemic. “Our construction PAUSE is not a reason anymore,” he said. Jacob Morris, president of the Harlem Historical Society, said She Built NYC’s excuse for the alleged foot-dragging on its own planned monuments is “completely bogus. “I don’t think it was ever going to happen if we waited on the city.’’ He followed through,’’ Vivolo told The Post. He said a statue of the saint will be unveiled in Battery Park in downtown Manhattan in the next few months, courtesy of the state. “The others are delayed due to the state PAUSE order,” the spokeswoman said of the six additional planned female statues - even though construction has been allowed in the city since early June.Īngelo Vivolo, chairman of Columbus Citizens Foundation and president of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, hailed the state for doing what the city has to achieve - honor Cabrini. There are “no updates to share as of now on round two” of She Built NYC, which the mayor said would include a tribute to Mother Cabrini - after McCray ignored a poll that put the Catholic saint atop a wish list of statues for commissions.Ĭhirlane McCray's new ThriveNYC website reveals $1.25B program's empty boasts
“The Shirley Chisholm monument is the only project for which an artist has been selected, and we anticipate that it will be installed next year,” the McCray rep said regarding She Built NYC. The city’s first lady is not paid for her work on either project and uses existing city employees for them. Fewer than 10 of the city’s 150 current statues honor women. Seven historical female city figures, including groundbreaking politician Shirley Chisholm and legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, were selected for monuments by She Built NYC last year. Meanwhile, last month, de Blasio appointed his wife to yet another monumental effort - a racial justice task force, where she’ll be reviewing the fate of current city statues honoring figures tainted by slavery, including memorials to Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson - even as she struggles to address the first related project. There’s no one at the helm,” City Councilman Mark Gjonaj (D-Bronx), a member of the body’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, griped to The Post. “There is no leadership, there is follow-through.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife started the effort two years ago - yet has chosen only one artist for a single monument so far.Ī rep for McCray insists her boss’s She Built NYC effort had to be temporarily shelved because of the coronavirus, but critics note that construction restraints on the Big Apple amid the pandemic were lifted several months ago - and claim City Hall’s incompetence and scattered priorities are really to blame. Oh happy day when we vote to replace Bill de Blasio - the worst mayor ever!ĭe Blasio 'absolutely' welcome at Columbus Day Parade after 2020 snubįirst lady Chirlane McCray’s pet project to erect more city statues to women is a monumental failure, critics say. Jumaane Williams knocks de Blasio for claiming credit on new national suicide helpline