REMARKS
Council Member Ossé announces street co-namings honoring community leaders
0:36:22
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Council Member Chi A. Ossé announces the official co-naming of three blocks in his district to honor Clara Hayes, Joseph "Scooter Joe" Willins, and Miriam Carter. He provides background information on each honoree, highlighting their significant contributions to the Bed-Stuy community.
- Clara Hayes: Longtime owner of Macon Hardware store, known for her community service and one of the longest-running African American woman-owned businesses in Bed-Stuy.
- Joseph “Scooter Joe” Willins: Former USMC and NYPD officer, recognized for his community-oriented policing approach in Bed-Stuy.
- Miriam Carter: Founder of the Carter Cadets drum and bugle corps, which played a crucial role in the lives of African American youth in Brooklyn.
Chi A. Ossé
0:36:22
Thank you, majority leader.
0:36:23
I am thrilled to officially coname 3 blocks in my district after Clara Hayes, Joseph Scooter Joe Whelans, and Miriam Carter.
0:36:31
Missus Hayes moved to New York City at the age of 18 with $28 in her pocket.
0:36:35
After working many years at the Macon Hardware store, she bought the business and the building with her husband from its original owners.
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She dedicated her life to serving her community with her hardware and variety store.
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She prepared and gave way gave away meals for people in need for over 30 years and gave discounts to those who needed supplies from her store.
0:36:54
She provided jobs to those who needed and also received rewards and citations for her community involvement.
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She's documented as maintaining one of the longest running businesses owned by an African American woman in Bed Stuy.
0:37:06
Scooter Joe served in the United States Marines and later Joe joined the NYPD in 1966.
0:37:11
His intimate involvement and knowledge of the neighborhood made him a tremendously effective officer in Bed Stuy.
0:37:17
He was well known for his compassionate heart.
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He specialized in community oriented policing long before they became institutionalized.
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He retired from the NYPD in 1986, but continued to stay embedded and actively involved in the bedside community for the rest of his life.
0:37:31
And finally, Miriam Carter founded the drum and bugle corps called the Carter Cadets in her home in 1949 Until her death in 1963, and for a decade after, the Carter Cadets played a critical role in the lives of many African American youths in Brooklyn.
0:37:47
They participated in numerous competitions and traveled to Washington DC in 1961 to participate in Bayard Ruston's 1st March on Washington.
0:37:55
Thank you, and congratulations to all the families.
