On January 7th, a new City Council Speaker was born in New York City – she is Julie Manning, a descendant of a survivor of a massacre and a New York Jew. Like almost all New Yorkers, Manning’s story is a typical immigrant story.
In the 1950s, Manning’s mother and grandmother made their way to New York from Europe. Previously, they had hidden in a cellar in Hungary to escape the Nazi massacre, while her grandfather and other relatives perished in the massacre of Jews.
Later, the Soviet Union occupied Hungary, laying landmines everywhere, leaving people with nowhere to run. Manning’s grandmother escaped to Czechoslovakia one late night, but faced hostility towards Jews, prompting her to flee to Australia. After spending 6 years there, she finally arrived in New York.
“Other than the American dream and an unwavering determination, they had almost nothing,” Manning said. “The people of the East Side of Manhattan warmly welcomed my family… and now, it is truly an honor for me to represent this community, which holds great significance for me.”
Manning was born in the East Side of Manhattan, and after studying law, she practiced as a lawyer for 7 years before opening a restaurant in downtown. However, her small restaurant was destroyed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with all windows shattered and glass shards flying everywhere. She founded a non-profit organization dedicated to rebuilding, and this marked the beginning of her political journey. Subsequently, Manning initiated an arts project, built new schools, the Performing Arts Center in the World Trade Center, and ran for Chair of the first Community Board. Prior to this, she “never dreamed of becoming a politician and running for public office.”
“We live in an era where a Muslim serves as Mayor and a Jewish woman as City Council Speaker in New York City,” Manning said. “While this moment is historically significant, what truly matters is whether this interfaith leadership model can unite us all, ease tensions, bridge divides, and help us realize that we are all one, regardless of our religion or language.”
Although being elected as City Council Speaker is the “greatest professional honor” of her career, Manning admits that “being a mother is my greatest joy and happiness.”
“Our faith is deeply intertwined with our families,” Manning said, as her three sons, daughter, and husband joined her at her inauguration, “As a mother of four children, my kids give me love, support, pride, and inspiration.”
Her daughter said before the council meeting: legislation should mandate that social media is used only to share positive news, or that everyone must smile at each other when walking on the streets…
Manning shared her own and her family’s story, prompting everyone to reflect on their own immigrant journeys. She mentioned that from the Dominican families in Washington Heights, to the Mexican community in Sunset Park; from Haitian families in Flatbush and Canarsie, to Caribbean communities in Crown Heights and East New York; from Polish families in Greenpoint and Ridgewood, to the Chinese community in Flushing; from South Asian families in Jackson Heights and Richmond Hill, to West African communities in the Bronx and Staten Island… generations of immigrants in New York City have warmly welcomed newcomers with open arms.
“We don’t need to repeat New York’s story over and over to remember how immigrants have built and rebuilt this city every decade,” Manning said. “But when we do, when we acknowledge who planted the seeds that bore the fruits of our success, and when we recall that the strength of our community is rooted in tolerance of differences, we can praise New York – a city that doesn’t leave anyone behind, a city built on courage and kindness, a city that has nurtured me, my family, and millions of others, and we will be a council that serves all.”