Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, representing the City’s 16^th District, has been honored by Crain’s New York Business 2021 as a Notable Black Leader and Executive. The list spotlights Black men and women who have affected the city with professional, communal and philanthropic achievements, particularly in matters of diversity and inclusion. Gibson congratulated her fellow honorees, said she was blessed to be recognized during Black History Month, and that she stood on the shoulders of the pioneers and trailblazers who started the work before her.

 

As reported previously by the Norwood News, Gibson is currently one of six candidates running for the position of Bronx borough president. The honor from Crain’s comes on the heels of two recent endorsements this week of the councilwoman’s candidacy for borough president, the first from Congressman and former Councilman, Ritchie Torres, who currently represents New York’s 15th congressional district, and the second from former Councilman James Vacca, who represented the City’s 13th Council District from 2006 to 2017.

Torres described Gibson as a fighter who has the tenacity and grit to be an excellent Borough President. “I’m proud to endorse her candidacy, and look forward to partnering with her to address the various crises the Bronx faces as we aim to recover from the impact of the pandemic,” he wrote in a press release on Feb. 8.

 

Meanwhile, Gibson said that throughout their time together in the City Council, she had been proud to work alongside Torres on important issues like criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

 

“Together, as chairs of the Public Safety and Public Housing Committees, we worked to ensure that our NYCHA residents had safe and secure housing,” said Gibson. “He has been an important partner in helping our community get through the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting programs like Health Bucks that help improve access to healthy affordable food. I am thankful to have Congressman Torres’ support in my campaign for Bronx Borough President and look forward to continuing to work with him to make our borough a fairer, more equitable place to live.”

 

Meanwhile, Vacca said that when it comes to youth, seniors, and all communities, Gibson cares passionately about the borough. “The Bronx needs someone who is ready to lead us out of the pandemic and fight to get what our borough needs. I served with Vanessa in the City Council – I know she is that leader,” he said.

 

Reacting to the Vacca’s endorsement, Gibson said she was proud to serve alongside him in the City Council delivering on the issues facing Bronxites. “We worked together to secure funding for youth programs, senior centers, and affordable housing,” she said. “Jimmy is a friend and has dedicated his life to public service as a former Community Board District Manager, a Council Member, and now a college professor of distinction. He is well loved by his constituents and a legend in his community. I am proud to have his support.”

 

The other five being Councilmember Fernando Cabrera, who represents the 14^th City Council District, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández, who represents the 80^th Assembly District, community activist, Victor H. Hernandez, State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda, who represents the State’s 32nd Senatorial District, and former NYPD veteran, Sammy Ravelo.

 

On Jan. 22, Councilman Rafael Salamanca, who represents the 17th City Council District and has chaired the City Council Land Use committee, abruptly withdrew his candidacy, having only announced his run in November 2020, saying that as the city begins to reemerge from the pandemic, he feels he can better serve the community by seeking re-election to the Council.

 

Of her most recent honor, Gibson added, “They [Black ancestral leaders] have set high standards of commitment and leadership and created a path for all of us!” Gibson said in a written press release. “We stand in our purpose to make a difference in our communities and in our beloved City! Black History is American History.”