Women who lead in New York reflect on progress since 19th Amendment

It was 100 years ago that women won the right to vote after a decades-long fight.

News 12 Staff

Aug 17, 2020, 9:54 PM

Updated 1,439 days ago

Share:

News 12 is celebrating the centennial milestone of the 19th Amendment this week.
It was 100 years ago that women won the right to vote after a decades-long fight.
News 12's Tara Rosenblum caught up with some of the women who hold the highest offices of power in New York today.
Some of the women include Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Assembly Member Amy Paulin and Attorney General Letitia James.
New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins shattered New York's glass ceiling in 2019, becoming the first women in the history of New York to lead a conference.
"When I became...the majority leader, I asked the 20 women in the chamber to stand -- 20. So when you think of the fact that almost a third of them are women, it's incredible," she says. "The reality is that we are coming a long way, but here we are also in an environment where you see women's health, we see reproductive rights, being rolled back."
Hillary Clinton, the first female presidential candidate of a major political party, agrees.
"We've made a lot of progress. I would never deny that, but we still have a long way to go on women's rights, on gay rights, on making sure that every person has the same chance to have their dignity and their identity respected," she says.
Compared to the rest of the world, the United States has the largest number of women in federal, state and local elected office.
A half-hour show on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. will celebrate the important milestone -- only on News 12.
 


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued