FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 25, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 22
Older Women Are Moving New York Forward
Throughout New York’s history, women
have taken incredible strides to create
a more equal and just society. As we celebrate
Women’s History Month, we recognize
the great work that New Yorkers
like former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt,
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and
Congresswoman Bella Abzug accomplished.
But there is still much work to be
done. Fortunately today, women elected
officials are showing that age does not
matter. In these difficult times, the experience
and knowledge these women bring
to government are clear advantages to
implement and understand the needs of
their constituents.
One of my first jobs was at the same agency
I have the privilege of leading today,
the Department for the Aging, where in
1979 I became the Bureau Chief. After
decades of working in various leadership
positions in government and non-profits,
the experience I gained has allowed me to
grow as an effective leader.
Unfortunately, ageism still permeates to
the workplace. Studies have shown that
managers, in some cases without realizing
it, have biases against workers of
a certain age. Some claimed that these
employees do not want to seek a promotion
because they are at the end of
their careers. But there are many woman
elected officials today in New York
who defy ageism and demonstrate how
effective older women can be.
At the age of 63, Governor Kathy Hochul,
the first women ever to lead the state, is
continuing her life’s work to help New
Yorkers. Just this January she signed a
bill into law expanding the definition of
elder abuse to include identity theft. Then
to keep older adults safe and able to live
independently, the Governor extended
property tax exemptions so they can continue
to afford to live in their homes.
Then there is our state’s Attorney General,
Letitia James, who became the first person
of color and first woman, to ever be
elected to this office, and is now leading
it in her sixties. Attorney General James
has led national efforts against companies
who are defrauding seniors and is working
with her colleagues in government
to pass legislation that would help prevent
these frauds from occurring.
Speaking of our state legislature, Assemblywoman
Helene Weinstein is one
of the most influential lawmakers in the
entire state. First elected to the State
Assembly over 40 years ago to represent
the 41st District in Brooklyn, she
currently serves as Chairwoman of the
Ways and Means Committee, giving her
an outsized role in the budget process.
She has also helped pass legislation to
increase property tax exemptions for
older adults, while bringing insurance
companies and long-term care providers
together to make sure those who
need it can receive the care they need.
We also have older women leading at the
local level. In January, the City Council
voted for Adrienne E. Adams to be
its Speaker. A proud grandmother, the
61-year-old has represented Council District
28 in Southeast Queens for the last
five years. As Speaker, Ms. Adams has
considerable say in the city’s budget and
the body’s legislative calendar.
New York has always relied on women
and older adults to move our city forward,
and that tradition continues today. Whether
it is in the workforce or right in their
own communities, these women demonstrate
that older New Yorkers know how to
get things done.
By Commissioner
Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez
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Victoria Schneps presents
PODCAST
Misty Marris, Co-Managing
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Misty Marris
Co-Managing partner of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
and On-Air Legal Analyst
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