September 5, 2019
Dear Chirlane McCray,
Our organization received numerous complaints from NYC Residents regarding the refusal to build a statue for St Francis Xavier Cabrini. We have conducted research into the She Built NYC program and are dismayed at the deliberate indifference toward our community which includes over 700,000 Italian Americans and 2.8 million Catholics. The She Built NYC program reached out to New Yorkers and held a public vote to decide which women should be honored with newly built statues. Mother Cabrini received the most votes, yet was removed from the list and other figures that received less votes were chosen. We are requesting a reconsideration and would like to provide additional information as needed.
In addition to receiving the most NYC votes, there are many other reasons to honor this pioneering woman
Mother Cabrini was a true pioneer of her time in the social service arena when NYC was unable to provide resources for the millions of newly arrived immigrants. Her contributions to NYC did not stop with her death in 1917. To this day, her spirit lives on in many parts of the city which is why she received the most votes during the process. Every ethnic group has made remarkable contributions to NYC and the Italian American community feels that Mother Cabrini deserves a statue because of her unwavering commitment to serving our community during a turbulent time in NYC’s history.
Sincerely,
Dr. Manny Alfano, President
Dear Chirlane McCray,
Our organization received numerous complaints from NYC Residents regarding the refusal to build a statue for St Francis Xavier Cabrini. We have conducted research into the She Built NYC program and are dismayed at the deliberate indifference toward our community which includes over 700,000 Italian Americans and 2.8 million Catholics. The She Built NYC program reached out to New Yorkers and held a public vote to decide which women should be honored with newly built statues. Mother Cabrini received the most votes, yet was removed from the list and other figures that received less votes were chosen. We are requesting a reconsideration and would like to provide additional information as needed.
In addition to receiving the most NYC votes, there are many other reasons to honor this pioneering woman
- She was the first U.S. Citizen to be canonized
- Founded over 67 schools and orphanages dedicated to the sick, poor and Italian
immigrants - She is the patron saint of immigrants
- A true symbol of diversity
Mother Cabrini was a true pioneer of her time in the social service arena when NYC was unable to provide resources for the millions of newly arrived immigrants. Her contributions to NYC did not stop with her death in 1917. To this day, her spirit lives on in many parts of the city which is why she received the most votes during the process. Every ethnic group has made remarkable contributions to NYC and the Italian American community feels that Mother Cabrini deserves a statue because of her unwavering commitment to serving our community during a turbulent time in NYC’s history.
Sincerely,
Dr. Manny Alfano, President