The plan to build a monument to NYC women who made history, announced by New York City’s First Lady Chirlane McCray on June 20, is a great idea, but there are flaws. People who make online nominations are supposed to be residents of New York City and limit themselves to suggesting three nominees, but there does not appear to a mechanism for monitoring this. But the bigger problem is the closing date for nominations, August 1, 2018. It is supposed to allow enough time for public hearings in the fall and the announcement of the subject of the statue and its location in January 2019. But that means New York City children, off from school during the summer months, will not be able to participate.

Researching, reporting, and proposing nominees would be a wonderful social studies project for the fall and would engage more New Yorkers in the nomination process. Urge Chirlane McCray and the Department of Cultural Affairs to postpone closing online nominations until December 31, 2018 so New York City school children can participate.