'The Unveiling of 'Hon. Aurelia Greene Way'

 

The Mentor and the Student at a Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson community event in August 2019

It was a hot sunny Saturday for the unveiling of Aurelia Greene way. Aurelia Greene was a member of the State Assembly from 1982 through 2009 when newly elected Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. convinced Aurelia Greene to be his Deputy Bronx Borough President where she served until 2017 when she retired from politics. While in the assembly Aurelia Greene was a mentor to many new members including Ruben Diaz Jr. who was elected to the State Assembly in 1997. 

Assemblywoman Greene would also mentor interns in her office, one such intern being a young Vanessa Gibson. Gibson would take over the assembly seat when Assemblywoman Greene became the new Deputy Bronx Borough President. After  eight term-limited years in the City Council, Greene's pupil Vanessa Gibson would then win the election to become the 14th Bronx Borough President. During her speech Bronx BP Gibson thanked Aurelia Greene for all the help she gave her, and said she wouldn't be the Bronx Borough President if it wasn't for Aurelia Greene. 

Also speaking were Congressman Ritchie Torres, State Senator Jose Serrano Jr., Assemblywoman Latoya Joiner, Councilwoman Althea Stevens, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark former Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, and NYC Mayor Eric Adams. There were many other Bronx elected officials and judges in the audience as well as friends and neighbors. The Master of Ceremonies was Aurelia Greene's son in law Michael Leonard James. The New York State Police Ceremonial Unit presented the Colors, and the National Anthem was sung by Music With a Message who also did a musical performance later in the show. The family was presented with a duplicate of the new street sign 'Hon. Aurelia Greene Way', which was placed in the corner of her husband's street sign 'Rev. Jerome A. Greene Place' on the corner of Teller Avenue and East 168th Street.

The Master of Ceremonies was Michael Leonard Jones, the Son in-law of Aurelia Greene. 

You can see the crowd that was seated under the canopies, but there were even more people either seated or standing under one of the many trees in the plaza.

Music With a Message sang the National Anthem and did a musical performance later in the program.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson proclaimed the day Aurelia Greene Day during her speech. She told the story of becoming an intern in the assembly office of Aurelia Greene, and how Aurelia Greene mentored her to become the leader she now is. BP Gibson ended her speech thanking Aurelia Greene as one could see the solemnity in BP Gibson's voice with tears about to flow from her eyes that her mentor Aurelia Greene was now with her husband Rev. Jerome A. Greene. 

Assemblywoman Latoya Joiner spoke of how she also was mentored by Aurelia Greene, which has made her the fine assembly member she now is. Assemblywoman Joiner is also the head of the Bronx Democratic County Committee. 

State Senator Jose M. Serrano spoke about his father Congressman Joie Serrano and Aurelia Greene, and said that his father wished he could be here but he can not due to his health.

Mayor Adams arrived during the ceremony sitting next to Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, but as soon as he sat down he was called to the stage to speak. 

Mayor Eric Adams spoke of his time in the State Senate and his interactions with Aurelia Greene. He added that Aurelia Greene was a very smart woman who helped many people move up the political ladder. 

Former Assemblyman Marcos Crespo spoke after Mayor Eric Adams, and said how do I follow what the mayor said. One can see the word MAYOR on the back of Mayor Adam shirt, which reminded me of the movie Blazing Saddles where Mel Brooks played the governor of a state, and wore the word GOV on the back of his jacket because no one knew he was the governor. Mayor Adams may of had the word MAYOR on the back of his shirt so his security detail could easily find him in a crowd. 

The extended Aurelia Greene family was presented with a ceremonial street sign 'Hon. Aurelia Greene Way'. 

It was then time to unveil the new sign on the corner of Teller Avenue and East 168th Street, 'Hon Aurelia Greene Way'.

The new sign 'Hon. Aurelia Greene Way', is on the same street pole as her husband 'Rev. Jerome A. Greene Place'. 

In 2018 after Aurelia Green retired as Deputy Bronx Borough President she is given a portrait of herself by then Bronx Democratic Party Chairman Marcos Crespo Chairman.