Carol Greitzer facts for kids

Carol Greitzer (born January 3, 1925 – died April 3, 2026) was an important American politician. She served on the New York City Council for many years, from 1969 to 1991. She was also the first president of an organization that worked to support women's health and choices.

Early Life and Education

Carol Greitzer was born in Manhattan, New York, on January 3, 1925. She grew up in the Bronx, another part of New York City. Her father, Harry Hutter, loved learning about the city's history. He often took her sightseeing, which helped Carol develop her own love for New York City.

She attended Hunter College and later earned a master's degree in English Literature from NYU.

Carol Greitzer later moved to the Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York. She was married to Herman Greitzer, and after their divorce, she married lawyer Joshua S. Vogel in November 1990. She lived in Greenwich Village for many years and passed away at her home there on April 3, 2026, at the age of 101. She was Jewish.

A Career in Public Service

Carol Greitzer believed that moving to Greenwich Village helped her become interested in politics. She joined the Greenwich Village Association, a local community group. After helping with a political campaign, she became a member of the Village Independent Democrats in 1956. In 1960, she successfully ran for president of this group, winning against Ed Koch, who later became a famous mayor. In 1961, Greitzer decided to run for district leader, a local political role.

Protecting Community Spaces

Carol Greitzer became very involved in protecting important buildings and public spaces in her community. One of her first big successes was saving the Jefferson Market Courthouse. She worked with others, including Philip Wittenberg and Margot Gayle, to gather local leaders and even children from the community. They campaigned to turn the courthouse into a library instead of letting it be torn down. Their hard work paid off, and the building was saved. Today, it is still known as the Jefferson Market Library.

Greitzer also played a key role in a plan to remove cars and buses from Washington Square Park. In 1963, she worked with Shirley Hayes and Ed Koch on this project. They argued that removing traffic would create a better outdoor space for children and reduce air pollution. Their efforts were successful. Greitzer even joined Koch to symbolically push the last bus out of Washington Square Park, celebrating their victory.

Serving on the New York City Council

When Ed Koch left his position on the New York City Council in 1969, Carol Greitzer decided to run for the open seat. She won the election and became a New York City Councilwoman. She represented Greenwich Village and other areas downtown. Greitzer served on the Council for 22 years, from her win in 1969 until 1991. In 1991, she lost her seat to Charles Millard.

Advocating for Women's Rights

Carol Greitzer's dedication to public service also included advocating for women's rights and equality.

Leading NARAL

Greitzer became very active in supporting women's health and choices in New York. She started working with an organization called NARAL. At that time, NARAL focused on changing laws related to women's health. Greitzer worked closely with politician Percy Sutton, who also supported these efforts, to promote new laws in New York state.

On September 27, 1969, NARAL's board of directors chose Carol Greitzer to be their president. In this role, she collaborated with other important women's rights activists, including Shirley Chisholm. In 1972, Greitzer attended the 1972 Democratic National Convention as a representative. There, she worked with other advocates to ensure that issues important to women, such as their health and equal opportunities, were a main focus for the Democratic party.

Founding the First Women's Bank

Beyond her work in politics and advocacy, Carol Greitzer helped create the New York First Women's Bank. In 1973, she joined with Evelyn Lehman, Jane Trahey, Eileen Preiss, Sarah Kovner, Carol Opton, Betty Friedan, Sheldon Goldstein, and Philip Sills to establish this special bank. The bank aimed to provide financial guidance, offer helpful seminars, and create job opportunities specifically for women.

This idea inspired groups in many other cities across the country to open their own women's banks. In 1989, the First Women's Bank changed its name to the First New York Bank for Business. This change happened because they felt there was less need for banks focused only on one gender over time.

See also

• J. Raymond Jones