On Friday, September 23, my office was honored to host a reception at City Hall to honor the 40th Anniversary of the first female firefighters joining the New York City Fire Department.

These women faced extreme adversity as they fought to carve out a place for themselves and every other woman who followed after them, and they serve as true pioneers in the fight for female equality.

We were joined by my fellow Council Members Amanda Farias, Diana Ayala, Gale Brewer, Julie Menin, Lynn Schulmann, and Vickie Paladino, as well as acting FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh and Chief of the Department John Hodgens, as well as several members of the United Women Firefighters to celebrate this momentous anniversary.