Brooklyn Boro

BP Adams wants Brooklyn Municipal Building named after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

September 27, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams wants to rename the Municipal after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Eagle file photos by Rob Abruzzese
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Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has started a petition on Change.org to have the Municipal Building in Downtown Brooklyn renamed after Brooklyn’s most famous U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Justice Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, raised in Flatbush and attended James Madison High School before she went to Cornell University and Columbia Law School.

“The life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a quintessential New York story. She grew up in Flatbush, the daughter of Jewish immigrants,” said Adams’ Change.org petition. “Despite family tragedies that struck Justice Ginsburg early in life, including the death of her 6-year-old sister and early passing of her mother Celia, she rose to the apex of her profession, staying true to her ideals and principles.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become an icon, affectionately referred to as the ‘Notorious RBG.’ In an era where popular culture puts performing artists and sports stars on a public pedestal, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has risen to incredible levels of iconic admiration and love.”

Carrie Anne Cavallo, president of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association, was immediately thrilled to hear Adams’ proposal.

“As only the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court and currently still sitting, in the current climate it does seem appropriate to recognize her contributions to the legal community,” Cavallo said. “As one of Brooklyn’s most well-known legal minds I cannot think of someone more deserving of this tribute.”

Cavallo explained that Justice Ginsburg’s contribution to the legal community goes beyond her work as a Supreme Court justice.

Borough President Eric Adams wants this Joralemon Street building, known as the Brooklyn Municipal Building, to be renamed for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

“She educated probably thousands of legal minds while a professor, she expanded the scope of the 14th amendment of the Constitution with her successful arguments before the Supreme Court just to name a few,” Cavallo said. “It is only appropriate that we honor her with this small token of our appreciation for all that she has done for so many women and men.”

David Chidekel, president of the Brooklyn Bar Association, also felt the rename would be fitting.

“We were so happy to support this effort to rename the municipal building,” Chidekel said. “Not only is she a great Justice and a great New Yorker, she is a native of Brooklyn and went to high school here.

“Moreover, she has supported the BBA and swore in Justice Miriam Cyrulnik as president of the BBA,” Chidekel continued. “Her commitment to individual and institutional rights reflects the spirit of New York, her energy and high level of performance serves as an example to our maturing New Yorkers. I am proud to support the renaming of the building.”

In the petition, Adams claims that the only action needed for the name change is to have Mayor Bill de Blasio issue an executive action and cited the rename of the Manhattan Municipal Building in honor of former Mayor David Dinkins as an example.

“With this understanding, we urge Mayor Bill de Blasio to rename Joralemon Street’s Brooklyn Municipal Building for the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” Adams wrote.

The Brooklyn Municipal Building, built in 1924 and located at 210 Joralemon St., houses many government offices including the City Clerk, the Department of Buildings, Probation, Finance and Environmental Protection.

 

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