Senator Squadron Selects Community Leader Catherine McVay Hughes as One of New York’s Women of Distinction

State Senate Honors McVay Hughes for
Dedication to Redevelopment of Lower Manhattan
and Community Concerns

New York, NY—Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron announced that he has selected Lower Manhattan community leader Catherine McVay Hughes to be honored by the Senate as one of New York’s Contemporary Women of Distinction.  Ms. McVay Hughes will be honored tonight at the State Senate’s annual celebration recognizing outstanding women throughout the state whose work has improved the quality of life for their community.  As Vice Chair of Manhattan Community Board 1 and Chair of the Board’s World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee, McVay Hughes has worked tirelessly on the community’s behalf on issues related to the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center site, ensuring that the community’s input, questions, and concerns are taken into account. 

Senator Squadron said, “Catherine’s contributions to the community are invaluable – through her dedication and hard work, she has brought a much-needed community perspective to rebuilding in Lower Manhattan, driving the discussion on everything from health concerns with national implications to quality of life issues that affect thousands of neighborhood residents.  She brings passion, creativity, and commitment to her efforts, and I am thrilled to select her for this distinguished award.”

McVay Hughes said, “I am delighted to be honored and look forward to continue working with Senator Squadron in restoring Lower Manhattan as a great place to live, to work, and to visit. Nothing gets done alone, but instead everything is a group effort of many people working together with the same goal and working forward towards it.”

McVay Hughes’s long list of accomplishments include addressing environmental health issues that have arisen after 9/11, “green” construction, construction safety, emergency preparedness, keeping Fulton Street and Cortlandt Street stations on track, securing community grants, educating the public about the dangers of hydrofracking in drinking water and pollution caused by dirty heating oil, and working with relevant stakeholders to move construction forward at the World Trade Center site.

The Senate’s annual Women of Distinction program, created as part of the Senate’s celebration of Women’s History Month, allows each Senator to select a distinguished woman who has made important contributions to her community.  Previous nominees have included women from business, academia and civic life, as well as those who have performed heroic or selfless acts, made significant discoveries, or excelled against difficult odds.