LIC Post Office renamed for Geraldine Ferraro

BY PETE DAVIS

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 5:16 PM EDT

Later this year residents who go to the Long Island City Post Office will see a new, but familiar, name on the building – former Congressmember and Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.

President Barack Obama signed legislation last month officially renaming the building located at 46-02 21st Street in Long Island City the Geraldine Ferraro Post Office. An official renaming ceremony will take place later in the fall.

“Naming the Long Island City Post Office after her is a fitting tribute to a woman who devoted a good part of her life to the Queens community – first in the District Attorney’s office and later in the halls of Congress,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, who praised the legislation. “Her passion for public service has had a huge impact on both Queens and the nation.”

Ferraro first entered Congress as a representative of western Queens in 1978. During her time in office, she served on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, among other committee assignments.

After only a few years in office, Democratic nominee for President Walter Mondale tapped her as his Vice Presidential nominee. Ferraro became the first female Vice President nominee for a major party in U.S. history.

Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, who represents parts of Queens and Manhattan, introduced the bill in the House, which passed on May 5 of this year. The Senate approved the bill on August 4 and Obama signed it until law two weeks later.

“Through all of Geraldine’s many successes in life, the Queens residents she represented remember her as their Congressmember – a tenacious fighter who never backed down when it came time to stand up for them and their interests. She never forgot where she came from, and they have never forgotten her,” Maloney said in a statement. “Like another pillar of the federal government, the U.S. Postal Service, Geraldine Ferraro consistently delivered for the people she so faithfully and effectively served, making this tribute entirely appropriate.”