About the event:

Each day, millions of people “take” the Major Deegan, the Hutchinson Expressway, the Outerbridge Crossing, and the Holland Tunnel. Few travelers remember that, before these names became an urban shorthand for congestion, they were actual people. In Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names her quirky take on New York City history, law professor Rebecca Bratspies uses the naming of New York City’s roads, bridges, and civic institutions as a unique window into urban social structure and the City’s ever-changing inhabitants. The lives of Revolutionary War heroes, robber barons and Tammany Hall politicos introduce readers to the outsized roles that power politics, corruption, and the slave economy played and continue to play in New York City.  In this virtual talk for Untapped New York Insiders, Bratspies will share some of her favorite and most entertaining tales from the book.

About Rebecca Bratspies

Rebecca Bratspies is a longtime resident of Astoria Queens. When not geeking out about New York City history, she is a Professor at CUNY School of Law. A scholar of environmental justice, and human rights, Rebecca has written scores of law review articles, four other books, including Environmental Justice: Law Policy and Regulation, and three environmental justice comic books Mayah’s Lot, Bina’s Plant, and Troop’s Run (w/ Charlie LaGreca-Velasco). She serves on NYC’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board, and EPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee, is a scholar with the Center for Progressive Reform and a member of the NYC Bar Environmental Committee. ABA-SEER honored her work with its Commitment to Diversity and Justice Award.

Attendees will receive a link to join the webinar after completing the registration.