Yonkers pedestrian bridge dedicated in honor of city's first African American councilman
Joseph E. Burgess, Jr. was the first African American to be elected to the Yonkers City Council in 1983.
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A pedestrian bridge in Yonkers was officially rededicated Thursday in honor and memory of the city's first African American councilman.
Joseph E. Burgess, Jr. was the first African American to be elected to the Yonkers City Council in 1983 and served the city's first ward.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the Yonkers City Council gathered at the Unity Fountain at City Hall for the rededication.
The City of Yonkers originally dedicated the bridge to Burgess on June 5, 1995 but a permanent plaque was never installed to commemorate the recognition.
"He was the first African American to represent a district here in Yonkers. He got the recognition in the naming of the bridge, but never put a plaque up. Which is something we wanted to fix," Spano said.
Burgess was also appointed as the Deputy Human Resources Commissioner for Yonkers back in 1992 where he presented at many Yonkers Public schools.
