Last Thursday, NYC Mayor Eric L. Adams honored CWA Local 1180 President and National Executive Board Member Gloria Middleton with a Citation during a Women’s History Month reception in the grand ballroom of Gracie Mansion on Manhattan’s East side.
Middleton, named one of the 50 Remarkable Women who are improving New York, was called a pioneer labor leader whom Mayor Adams said has shown unwavering dedication to workers’ rights, civil rights, and gender equity.
The commendation read, “Middleton was the first African American and the first woman to ever serve as president of CWA Local 1180.” It continued, “WWhereas my administration is committed to chartering new waters to create a more equitable society in the five boroughs and beyond. We do this by uplifting women and removing the obstacles that have unjustly blocked their collective advancement during this meaningful month as we pay tribute to the glass ceiling breakers who eliminated the way.”
Mayor Adams said, “We also shine a spotlight on those who build upon this legacy. Today I’m proud to applaud Gloria Middleton for her efforts, her commitment, her dedication, and her vital workforce that she built a strong group of union members to push us forward in a healthy way. Thank you, Eric Adams, mayor of the city of New York,” states the Citation.
He extended “Happy Women Her Story Month” to the packed room of women professionals, including an all-women law enforcement squad of NYPD and Correction Officers. He spoke of all the women who made him a success.
“I always reflect when I talk about the foundation of why I’m endeared to not only the women of this administration but of the city, of prominent names. I think about the women from Church of Christ that I grew up attending in South Jamaica Queens,” said the politician who spoke of his mother Sandra who ensured food was on the table, the left-over from church functions.
“I’m part of the men who get it right club because no matter who you are, don’t look at my success. Look at the women who nurtured me even as I suffered with undiagnosed dyslexia; they were telling me don’t worry about it. They would stay up late at night and tutor me and speak with me. Sometimes, we define ourselves by our degrees, the accolades, and the success we have in our academic achievements without realizing there are those who made us who we are.”
“They may have a third-grade education, but they gave me the education needed to survive. Those women gave me half of what they had to move me forward. I’m not mayor because I went to John Jay College and Marist College. I’m mayor because I had good old-fashioned loving, commonsense, God-fearing women in my life who prayed for me during the most difficult times of my journey,” said Mayor Adams.
“I feel their presence every day. Many of them have transitioned, but I feel this spirit at every turn in every corner and every journey that I’m on, and that’s what the resiliency comes from, and that’s what Women’s History Month comes from,“ said the politician.
Mayor Adams said he paid women 14% higher than men when he was Brooklyn Borough President, adding, “I’m trying to deposit and pay back the loan by depositing to the social bank of life because I must pay back the Equity that women have given to me throughout my life. I can never pay it all back in one lifetime, but I’m starting the down payments with every action I take in government. History is going to be kind to me when people realize there has never been a mayor that stopped the betrayal of women in the city, the way I have with this administration that I’ve surrounded myself with.“
“We’re going to continue to do so from the police officers to the correction officers to those who are in other areas of the profession, all that we have done for all ethnicities. There is a unifying aspect to this: if we get it right with women, we will get it right in our city, and it would cascade throughout our entire country. Let’s become 50 percenters like those women who gave us 50% of what they have to our city. I thank you for coming here today uplifting and celebrating her story in a real way,“ said Mayor Adams.
Middleton credited her father, a longshoreman, and her mother with paving the way for her success and thanked Mayor Adams for the honor at Gracie Mansion.
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tish, the second woman to be appointed to this position, said, “I want to start by thanking Mayor Adams for his commitment to empowering the women of New York City. I want everyone to keep in mind that there have been 110 mayors of this great city, but only one has appointed a woman as police commissioner, and Mayor Adams has done it twice, so I want to thank him for the opportunity he’s given me to lead the greatest Police Department in the world.“
“Today isn’t just about honoring the history. It’s about making it and standing tall in it. I see a group of women who embody that spirit who are writing new chapters and ensuring that progress doesn’t stop with them. The change makers, the policy shapers, the barrier Breakers, and, of course, the Trail Blazers, powerful women who refuse to be underestimated because the journey here hasn’t been easy. History didn’t pave a path for women. It dared us to forge one. That’s exactly what we did with every step,“ said Tish.
Adding, “We shattered ceilings, and we defied expectations refusing to diminish ourselves just to earn visibility and through it all we showed up, with determination to face the challenges ahead and to lead where needed because when women lead, we lead with clarity and conviction, we lead with courage, and as your police commissioner, I will continue to stand with you to fight for you and to work to ensure that every woman whether she’s walking a beat raising a family or running a city agency, knows that her voice matters in New York City we’re not just part of history we are the ones writing it, thank you very much and happy women’s history month,” said Police Commissioner Tish.
Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs, Tiffany Rasberry, expressed gratitude to Eric L Adams for “the privilege to be surrounded by so many phenomenal women as we celebrate the achievements of women, reflect on our progress toward gender equity, and recognize the critical work of the UN Commission on the status of women.“
“I want to extend my gratitude to the New York City mayor’s office of Equity and racial justice for hosting this event and for all their ongoing leadership in advancing justice and opportunity for all this year that marks the significant milestone, 50 years of New York city’s commitment to advancing gender equity for the Adams administration, said Rasberry.
Sideya Sherman, Chief Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, said, “Equity is love and action, and her team is focused on ensuring women and all New Yorkers benefit from all that our city has to offer. I’m here because there was a generation of women before who saw a brighter future for me.“
“Let’s move forward with unity and purpose, honoring all of those who came before us and being committed to building a brighter future for the next generation of women. Thank you so much, and happy Woman’s History Month,“ said Sherman.
Other speakers who celebrated Women’s History Month and hailed trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm and Hazel Nell Dukes included Camille Joseph Varlack, the deputy mayor for administration; Donna Wright Bauer, the Deputy Executive for Strategic Learning and Capacity Building at the NYC Commission for Gender Equity; and the new executive director of NYC Her Future.
