BY AIDAN GRAHAM
The Bedford Union Armory
in Crown Heights will
be renamed in honor of Congressmember
Major Owens —
a longtime staple of New York
politics who served central
Brooklyn in the US House of
Representatives for 24 years.
“Major Owens left Brooklyn
better than he found it,
and New York City is proud to
honor his legacy with this facility,”
said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“Generations of New Yorkers
will learn, grow, and play
at this community center, and
they will have a role model of
strength and fairness as they
do.”
Owens, who passed away
in 2013, began his career as an
activist for racial and social
justice while serving as a librarian
in the Brooklyn Public
Library during the 1960s.
In 1974, Owens channeled
his advocacy work into a successful
run for the the New
York State Senate, where he
represented the 17th district
in central Brooklyn until he
won a seat in the national legislature
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in 1982.
Owens’ election made him
the successor to Congressmember
Shirley Chisholm, the
fi rst Black woman ever elected
to the legislative chamber.
During his legislative career,
Owens became known
for championing the Americans
with Disabilities Act,
which prohibited discrimination
against those with physical
limitations.
Owens also received national
attention for his personal
style, which included
his penchant for reading poetry
on the fl oor of the House
of Representatives during debates
over hot-button national
issues.
In 2007, Owens left the
halls of the legislature’s lower
chamber, paving the way for
current Congressmember
Yvette Clarke to take over the
post, which she still holds today.
After his retirement, Owens
became an advocate for turning
the Bedford Union Armory into
a communal gathering space
and place for recreation in the
park-starved neighborhood of
Crown Heights.
The City Council approved
the armory’s conversion plan
in 2017, turning the oncemilitary
space into a hub for
physical exercise, community
gatherings, art displays, fi lm
screenings, and more.
That green light came after
a long fi ght spearheaded by
community activists against
a plan to give over some of
the land to private developers
looking to build residential
units. Ultimately, the area’s
representative in the Council,
Laurie Cumbo, voted in
favor of the proposal, which
included some affordable
housing units— all but assuring
its passage.
Now, the armory will be
known as the “Major R. Owens
Health and Wellness Community
Center,” which drew
praise from Cuombo, who
hailed the renaming as a symbol
of the neighborhood’s vibrant
history, saying Owens’
vision for a place where the area’s
youth could make “cherished
memories” has fi nally
been realized.
“The Major R. Owens
Health and Community Wellness
Center is a true symbol
of the culture and legacy of
this historic neighborhood.
We fought unwaveringly to
ensure that this community
space would refl ect the
beauty and history of Crown
Heights, and I am proud to
be standing here seeing that
Major Owens’ vision is being
brought to light.”
Congressmember Major Owens.
The Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center. Google
‘A role model of strength’
Bedford Union Armory renamed for Rep. Major Owens
PAUL
Kings County Surrogate’s Court Judge
Dweynie Esther PAUL
For
Kings County Surrogate’s Court Judge
Democratic Primary Election
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
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