Elizabeth Crowley

Crowley was born in Queens to a large and civically-active family. The 14th of 15 siblings,Council Biography {{cite web|title=Elizabeth Crowley|url=http://council.nyc.gov/d30/html/members/biography.shtml|access-date=December 6, 2016}} She joined multiple members of her extended family who had held elected office over the years. Her father, Walter, was a local Democratic District Leader and City Council Member during the 1980s.(September 25, 1985). {{cite news|title=Walter H. Crowley, 53, Dies; A Councilman From Queens|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/25/nyregion/walter-h-crowley-53-dies-a-councilman-from-queens.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 7, 2016}} Crowley's mother, Mary, served on the local School Board 24 for a number of years.Elizabeth Crowley, City Council District 30. {{cite web|title=Candidate Profile|url=http://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/primary_2001/cd_statements/cd30_ecrowley.htm|publisher=New York City Campaign Finance Board|access-date=December 6, 2016}} Following Walter's death in office in 1985, Mary was tapped to finish out the remainder of his term. This made Crowley the third member of her immediate family to serve in the City Council.Lombardi, F. (January 9, 2009). {{cite news|title=City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley carrying on a family tradition|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/city-councilwoman-elizabeth-crowley-carrying-family-tradition-article-1.422860|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=December 7, 2016}}

Crowley is the cousin of former U.S. Congressman Joseph Crowley, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus and Democratic Party chair in Queens County.Rahman, R. (September 8, 2016). {{cite web|title= Decades-Old House Democratic Leadership Likely to Remain Intact|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/decades-old-house-democratic-leadership-likely-remain-intact|publisher=Roll Call|access-date=December 7, 2016}}Hicks, J. (November 5, 2008). {{cite news|title=Democrat Wins Queens Council Race|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/democrat-wins-queens-council-race/?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times| date=November 5, 2008 |access-date=December 7, 2016}}

Crowley has a B.A. magna cum laude in restoration and preservation from SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology, where she was a Presidential Scholar, and an M.S. in city and regional planning from Pratt Institute's Graduate School of Architecture.Voter Guide, 2009 General.{{cite web|title=30th City Council District|url=https://nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/general_2009/cd_profile/CD30_Crowley_530.aspx|publisher=New York City Campaign Finance Board|access-date=December 7, 2009}} She did historic preservation work on various landmarks through New York City, including Radio City Music Hall, Empire Theatre, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.{{cite web|title=Candidate Profile|url=http://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/primary_2001/cd_statements/cd30_ecrowley.htm|publisher=New York City Campaign Finance Board|access-date=December 6, 2016}}Hamilton, C. (May 18, 2012). {{cite web|title=Elizabeth Crowley Positions Herself as Queens' Blue-Collar Congressional Candidate|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/210486-queens-congressional-candidate-elizabeth-crowley-doesnt-mind-getting-her-hands-dirty/|publisher=WNYC|access-date=January 10, 2017}} She is a member of District Council 9 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Crowley also briefly worked as an educator.

On March 17, 2008, Republican City Council Member Dennis P. Gallagher resigned from office after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of sexual abuse stemming from a 2007 incident in which an intoxicated Gallagher forced himself upon an unidentified 52-year-old woman inside his Middle Village District Office.Baker, A., & Hicksmarch, J. P. (March 18, 2008). {{cite news|title=Admitting Sexual Abuse, City Councilman Resigns|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/nyregion/18gallagher.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 15, 2016}} Mayor Michael Bloomberg subsequently called a special election for the following June 3 to fill Gallagher's vacant seat. On May 8, Crowley announced her candidacy, joining a crowded field that included Gallagher's predecessor Tom Ognibene, a Republican who held the seat until term-limited from office in 2001,Paybarah, A. (May 20, 2008). {{cite news|title=Re-Elect Ognibene?|url=http://observer.com/2008/05/reelect-ognibene/|newspaper=The New York Observer|access-date=December 14, 2016}} city Elections Board Commissioner Anthony Como, civic leader Charles Ober, and attorney Joseph Suraci.Duke, N. (May 8, 2008). {{cite web|title=Crowley officially joins race for Gallagher's Council seat|url=http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2008/19/astoria_times_newscrowleyoff05082008.html|work=Astoria Times|access-date=December 15, 2016}} Crowley and Como received the backing of the county Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, with Ober picking up the Independence Party line.Benjamin, E. (June 4, 2008). {{cite web|title=Como and Crowley in too-close-to-call race|url=http://www.junipercivic.com/latestNewsArticle.asp?nid=228#.WFHXm3Q8KhA|work=Juniper Berry Magazine|access-date=December 15, 2015}}Paybarah, P. (May 22, 2008).{{cite news|title=Queens Special Election: Ober Gets Independence, Como and Ognibene Get Money|url=http://observer.com/2008/05/queens-special-election-ober-gets-independence-como-and-ognibene-get-money/|newspaper=The New York Observer|access-date=December 15, 2016}} Como eked out a victory over Crowley with a margin of just 41 votes.Hogwood, B. (October 23, 2008). {{cite web|title=Como, Crowley prepare for rematch|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/como-crowley-prepare-for-rematch/article_d104017e-e592-5025-b894-98ba737c3a14.html|work=Queens Chronicle|date=October 23, 2008 |access-date=December 15, 2016}}

Four months after Como's close victory, Como faced Crowley in the 2008 general election. Crowley anticipated to benefit from a higher turnout due to the historic candidacy of Barack Obama in a district where Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1. On election day, Crowley defeated Como by 4,369 votes.

For the third time in 17 months, Crowley ran for the 30th District during the 2009 citywide elections.Lauinger, J. (August 4, 2009). {{cite news|title=Elizabeth Crowley hopes reelection for Council seat will mean break from ongoing campaign|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/elizabeth-crowley-hopes-reelection-council-seat-break-ongoing-campaign-article-1.393923|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2016}} This time, Crowley faced Ognibene, who had sat out the second 2008 race after the county Republicans passed him over by endorsing Como, despite his stated interest in running.Hogwood, B. (May 21, 2009). {{cite web|title=Ognibene to challenge Crowley in council race|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/ognibene-to-challenge-crowley-in-council-race/article_77fc33b6-dac3-57ca-836c-c33eca8084b7.html|work=Queens Chronicle|date=May 21, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2016}} The race quickly turned heated, with Ognibene criticizing Crowley's brief tenure in the Council as "ineffective," while the Democrat in turn painted her 65-year-old challenger as "out of touch."Colangelo, L. (October 19, 2009) {{cite news|title=Gloves come off for Ognibene, Crowley in fiery City Council fight for 30th|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/gloves-ognibene-crowley-fiery-city-council-fight-30th-article-1.385462|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2016}} In the end, Crowley proved the stronger candidate, out-fundraising Ognibene and easily beating him in the November election.Walsh, J. (November 5, 2009). {{cite web|title=Crowley easily beats Ognibene|url=http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2009/45/ridgewood_ledger_newsbufbiov11042009.html|work=TimesLedger|access-date=December 15, 2016}}

In the 2017 New York City Council election, Robert Holden defeated Crowley by 137 votes.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bob-holden-winning-queens-city-council-race-vote-tally-article-1.3636148|title=Bob Holden winning Queens City Council race after vote tally|website=New York Daily News |date=November 15, 2017 |accessdate=November 16, 2017}} Holden, a Democrat, had previously lost to Crowley in the primary, but several other parties offered Holden their ballot line in the general and Holden ran as a Republican, Conservative, Reform and "Dump de Blasio" candidate.{{cite web|url=http://www.gothamgazette.com/city/6676-candidates-for-2017-city-elections-mayor-city-council-comptroller?edchoice=side|title=Candidates for 2017 City Elections|first=Ben|last=Max|accessdate=November 16, 2017}}

In 2010, when the city faced serious budget cuts and Bloomberg Administration planned to close as many as 20 firehouses,Kramer, M. (May 18, 2011). {{cite web|title=Bloomberg Relents, Releases List Of Fire Houses Facing Ax|date=May 18, 2011 |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/05/18/bloomberg-relents-releases-list-of-fire-houses-facing-the-ax/|publisher=WCBS-TV|access-date=January 10, 2017}} Crowley, as Chair of the Council Committee on Fire & Criminal Justice, led a coalition of elected officials and community members to stop the planned closures.Jaccarino, M. (June 24, 2010). {{cite news|title=Ruben Diaz Jr., Elizabeth Crowley call on Mayor Bloomberg to avert Bronx firehouse closings|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/ruben-diaz-jr-elizabeth-crowley-call-mayor-bloomberg-avert-bronx-firehouse-closings-article-1.180246|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=January 10, 2017}} Crowley has taken both the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations to task to improve the reliability of the city's 911 system.Durkin, E. (March 27, 2014). {{cite news|title=The city's new method of tracking ambulance response times to 911 shows lengthier waits for help|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/longer-911-response-times-stir-city-council-article-1.1737399|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2016}}

Crowley led a fight to preserve and expand City health services for women.NY1 News (June 16, 2015). {{cite web|title=Queens Leaders Call For Restored Funding For Women's Health Programs|url=http://www.ny1.com/nyc/queens/news/2015/06/16/queens-leaders-call-for-restored-funding-for-women-s-health-programs.html|publisher=NY1|access-date=January 10, 2017}} Crowley has also sponsored legislation to expand access to HPV vaccinations, birth control and other women's health services.Guidice, A. (December 8, 2016). {{cite web|title= Queens lawmaker fighting to protect NYC women's access to HPV vaccine & birth control|url=http://qns.com/story/2016/12/08/queens-lawmaker-fighting-protect-nyc-womens-access-hpv-vaccine-birth-control/|work=Queens Courier|date=December 8, 2016 |access-date=January 10, 2017}} Crowley has pushed the FDNY to double the number of women serving as firefighters in her efforts to improve gender equality among the city's emergency services.Turner, K. (December 10, 2014). {{cite news|title=City to FDNY: Hire More Women Firefighters|url=http://observer.com/2014/12/city-to-fdny-hire-more-women-firefighters/|newspaper=The New York Observer|access-date=January 10, 2017}} In an effort to bring more women to leadership roles in corporations, Crowley sponsored legislation requiring companies receiving city contracts to report the gender and racial makeup of their board members and executives.(April 7, 2016). {{cite web|title=Catalyst Receives Proclamation from New York City Council, Applauds Passage of Bill Promoting Greater Diversity on Boards|url=http://www.catalyst.org/media/catalyst-receives-proclamation-new-york-city-council-applauds-passage-bill-promoting-greater|publisher=Catalyst|access-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112175323/http://www.catalyst.org/media/catalyst-receives-proclamation-new-york-city-council-applauds-passage-bill-promoting-greater|archive-date=January 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Owing to her background in historic preservation, Crowley has worked to protect important local landmarks. In 2013, Crowley joined advocates in successfully lobbying the city's New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to confer landmark status on the century-old Forest Park Carousel, one of the last works of master carver Daniel Carl Muller,Colangelo, L. (May 13, 2013). {{cite news|title=Landmarks Preservation Commission to open landmarking procedure for historic Forest Park carousel|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/forest-park-carousel-path-landmark-article-1.1343005|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=December 6, 2016}}Thomson, M. (June 26, 2014) {{cite web|title=Woodhaven Developments|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/south/woodhaven-developments/article_a8dec1b0-5c6e-5137-a179-33f0d2a75078.html|work=Queens Chronicle|date=June 26, 2014 |access-date=December 6, 2016}} culminated a 40-year battle by the Woodhaven community to secure official landmark status for the beloved carousel.(May 11, 2016).{{cite web|title=Rally Held to Landmark Neir's Tavern|url=http://www.qgazette.com/news/2016-05-11/Front_Page/Rally_Held_To_Landmark_Neirs_Tavern.html|work=Queens Gazette|access-date=December 15, 2016}} File:Ridgewood Reservoir Basin Number 2 - exterior - Ridgewood Reservoir - OHNY.jpg]] That same year, Crowley oversaw the reopening of a nature preserve at the former Ridgewood Reservoir, a decommissioned 19th Century reservoir located in Highland Park on the Brooklyn–Queens border. This represented the culmination of a years-long effort by Crowley to maintain the site's natural character.Greene, C. (October 8, 2009). {{cite web|title=Questions Over City's Plan for Ridgewood Reservoir|url=http://forumnewsgroup.blogspot.com/2009_10_08_archive.html|work=The Forum|access-date=December 8, 2016}} The city Parks Department under Mayor Bloomberg had previously announced a number of proposals that would have limited public access to the site and installed sports facilities and comfort stations in two of the reservoir's three basins.La Guerre, L. (July 2, 2013). {{cite web|title=Ridgewood Reservoir plans met with mixed reaction|url=http://qns.com/story/2013/07/02/ridgewood-reservoir-plans-met-with-mixed-reaction/|work=Queens Courier|date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=December 8, 2016}}La Guerra, L. (October 15, 2013). {{cite web|title=Ridgewood Reservoir reopens after renovations|url=http://qns.com/story/2013/10/15/ridgewood-reservoir-reopens-after-renovations/|work=Queens Courier|date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=December 8, 2016}} However, in response to strong local opposition and a petition garnering over 1,000 signatures, Crowley joined with fellow elected officials in writing to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to oppose the city's plan.Kern-Jedrychowska, E. (September 8, 2014). {{cite web|title=Revamped City Plan Would Preserve Ridgewood Reservoir|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140908/ridgewood/revamped-city-plan-would-preserve-ridgewood-reservoir|publisher=DNAinfo.com|access-date=December 8, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112190533/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140908/ridgewood/revamped-city-plan-would-preserve-ridgewood-reservoir|archivedate=January 12, 2017}} Crowley subsequently secured Council funding towards a $7 million renovation that preserved the site as a nature area, while installing new fencing and lighting, and repaving walkways.

In November 2016, Crowley presided over a ceremony to official inaugurate the Central Ridgewood Historic District, a 40-block area including nearly 1,000 historic homes and buildings. At the time of its designation, Central Ridgewood is the largest historic district in the borough of Queens, and the third largest in the city after Manhattan's Greenwich Village and Brooklyn's Sunset Park.Barca, C. (November 10, 2016). {{cite web|title=Central Ridgewood is finally deemed 'historic'|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/central-ridgewood-is-finally-deemed-historic/article_e006a731-0025-5485-9780-5271ad4e748b.html|work=Queens Chronicle|date=November 10, 2016 |access-date=December 15, 2016}}

File:Neirs Tavern.jpg

Starting in 2015, Crowley joined preservationists and local residents in mounting a campaign to landmark historic Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven. Considered to be the oldest bar in the city,Colangelo, L. (February 24, 2015). {{cite news|title=NYC BAR WAR: Neir's, McSorley's battle of which is older|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/queens-bar-oldest-city-historian-article-1.2127001|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2016}} it has been a neighborhood watering hole for more than 180 yearsCarlson, J. (February 26, 2015). {{cite web|title=Neir's Tavern, NYC's Oldest Bar That You've Never Been To|url=http://gothamist.com/2015/02/26/oldest_nyc_bar_neirs_tavern.php#photo-2|work=Gothamist|access-date=December 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108005508/http://gothamist.com/2015/02/26/oldest_nyc_bar_neirs_tavern.php#photo-2|archivedate=November 8, 2016}} and was prominently featured in the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas.{{cite web|title=Neir's Tavern website|url=http://neirstavern.com/|access-date=December 15, 2016}}

In May 2016, Crowley attended a rally at the Tavern with more than 100 local residents to call on the LPC to recognize the building. Crowley criticized the body for falling to prioritize the landmarking of historic sites in the borough. The proposal was rejected by the LPC, according to the bar's owner, because "Neir's Tavern does not rise to the level of significance to warrant landmark status" and that landmark status would not protect the site from future development.Hallum, M. (July 1, 2016). {{cite web|title=Neir's Tavern Shot Down by LPC|url=http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2016/27/neirsrejected_2016_07_01_q.html|work=TimesLedger|access-date=December 15, 2016}}

In August 2016, city officials announced plans to house 110 homeless adult families at a Holiday Inn Express in Maspeth. Crowley declared her opposition to the planned shelter, noting the impact on the community of two existing homeless shelters along Queens Boulevard and pledging to "[work] with community leaders and residents" to halt the Maspeth proposal.Barca, C. (August 3, 2016). {{cite web|title=Maspeth Holiday Inn eyed for homeless shelter|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/maspeth-holiday-inn-eyed-for-homeless-shelter/article_e46e5420-5983-11e6-8009-3f79bdac1906.html|work=Queens Chronicle|date=August 3, 2016 |access-date=December 14, 2016}} The following week, New York City Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Steve Banks held a public meeting to present the plan to the community, drawing more than 1,000 residents opposed to the plan. Crowley also addressed the crowd, reiterating her opposition to the plan.Barca, C. (August 12, 2016). {{cite web|title=Maspeth erupts in protest of homeless shelter plan|url=|work=Queens Chronicle}}Whitfield, E. (August 12, 2016). {{cite web|title=Video: Queens Community Says Proposed Shelter Residents Should "Go Back To East New York"|url=http://gothamist.com/2016/08/12/maspeth_shelter_debate.php|work=Gothamist|access-date=December 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116171236/http://gothamist.com/2016/08/12/maspeth_shelter_debate.php|archivedate=November 16, 2016}}

Crowley was married to Dennis O'Hara, a New York City police officer. They have two sons, Dennis and Owen. She lives in Glendale, Queens with her sons.Campaign website. {{cite web|title=About Elizabeth|url=http://elizabethcrowley.com/about-elizabeth|access-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118083126/http://www.elizabethcrowley.com/about-elizabeth/|archive-date=November 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.elizabethcrowley.com/ Campaign website]
• [http://council.nyc.gov/d30/html/members/home.shtml New York City Council: District 30 - Elizabeth Crowley]
• [https://twitter.com/ElizCrowleyNYC?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Twitter page]

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{{s-bef|before=Anthony Como}}

{{s-ttl|title=New York City Council, New York City's 30th City Council district|30th district|years=2009–2017}}

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Category:1977 births

Category:Candidates in the 2012 United States elections

Category:Candidates in the 2021 United States elections

Category:Fashion Institute of Technology alumni

Category:Living people

Category:New York City Council members

Category:New York (state) Democrats

Category:Politicians from Queens, New York

Category:Pratt Institute alumni

Category:Women New York City Council members

Category:21st-century American women politicians