CB3 to consider street co-namings honoring Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Jack Kirby

Image via Marvel Comics 

Two proposed street co-namings honoring trailblazing New Yorkers are on the agenda for Community Board 3's Transportation, Public Safety, Sanitation & Environment Committee meeting tonight. 

One proposal would co-name Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C as Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera Way, honoring the pioneering trans activists who helped spark the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. 

In 1970, Johnson and Rivera co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) at 213 E. Second St., one of the first trans rights organizations in the world. STAR House served as both an organizing hub and a refuge for young trans and gender-nonconforming people. (Read more background here.)

The other proposal seeks to co-name Essex Street between Delancey and Rivington as Jack Kirby Way, recognizing the legendary comic book creator and Lower East Side native. 

Kirby, a decorated World War II veteran who grew up in 147 Essex St., co-created Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the Avengers, X-Men, and Black Panther, among many others. 

Per the proposal, his bold imagination and storytelling helped define modern pop culture, while his LES roots continued to influence his work throughout his career. 

Tonight's meeting starts at 6:30 at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. Members of the public can attend in person or by Zoom. 

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About the top photo: In July, the corner of Essex and Delancey briefly became Jack Kirby Way/Yancy St — honoring Kirby, the co-creator of the Fantastic Four and the fictional block where Ben Grimm (the Thing) grew up. The special street sign, unveiled ahead of the premiere of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," was only up for one day.