Electchester corner named after late lawmaker Nettie Mayersohn
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Queens Supreme Court Justice Lee Mayersohn hoists the street sign honoring his late mother, former Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn, which now sits at the corner of 161 Street and Jewel Avenue. Eagle photo by Noah Powelson
By Noah Powelson
Several members of the New York State Senate, Assembly and City Council gathered Sunday morning in Eastern Queens to honor the late former Assemblymember and Queens community leader Nettie Mayersohn.
In her honor, City Councilmember Jim Gennaro hosted a street renaming ceremony at the Electchester corner of 161 Street and Jewel Avenue, which now bears the former lawmaker’s name.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblymember Sam Berger and several others came out to speak about Mayersohn’s legacy, which was noted by her children and grandchildren who were in attendance.
Former City Council Member Barry Grodenchick acted as host during the ceremony, inviting speakers to share stories of the late assemblymember and the impact she had on the lives of Queens residents, particularly in Electchester.
“She had such a profound effect on my life, and the lives of so many people here today,” Grodenchick said, “You couldn’t grow up in this neighborhood without knowing the name Nettie Mayersohn.”
Mayersohn was elected to the Assembly representing the 27th District in 1983, where she served for over 30 years until retiring in 2011. Additionally, she served as the Democratic district leader for the 27th for over 40 years.
Her brand of politics invited others in for a conversation, rather than isolate, Katz said.
“Nettie and I did not always see eye to eye on every single issue in the world,” Katz said. “But Nettie Mayersohn was an assemblywoman at a time when you could have those discussions, those debates, those disagreements and actually end up in a good place.”
Mayersohn sponsored a number of HIV-related bills during her time in the Assembly that helped identify and assist victims of the virus. She was also known for her work on the “Baby AIDS” bill, legislation passed in 1994 that required disclosing HIV testing results on newborn infants to their legal guardians and physicians.
She passed on Aug. 13, 2020, at the age of 96.
Lawmakers in attendance on Sunday remembered Mayersohn for her courage when it came to tackling issues, like HIV, that other lawmakers wouldn't touch.
“Nettie is a person I think we all look up to,” said Liu. “Today, [the Baby AIDS bill] seems not that big a deal. But at the time, starting 30 years ago, when Assemblymember Mayersohn was pushing for it, that was rough. No one wanted to hear it, people even chastised her for it. That’s the kind of courage that all of us should display in politics and government.”
Mayersohn’s son, Queens Supreme Court Justice Lee Mayersohn, also spoke during the ceremony, thanking those gathered and the City Council for honoring his mother’s legacy.
“Whether as PTA president at PS201, or district leader and later member of the Assembly for over 30 years, [Nettie Mayersohn] was driven by the sole desire to help her community, its residents, and most importantly, its children,” the judge said.
“On behalf of the Mayerson family, Nettie’s children, her grandchildren, her nieces and nephews – we thank you for honoring her today and celebrating a life well-lived,” he added.
Nettie Mayersohn Way shares an intersection with a corner named in honor of Harry Van Arsdal Jr., the former president of the New York City Central Labor Council.
Mayersohn’s street sign was unveiled by the lawmaker’s children, Lee and Jeffrey Mayersohn, and her grandchildren.
