Marinus Willett Wall Street, in New York City. His funeral had 10,000 mourners. He was later reburied in the New York City Marble Cemetery. Willett Street in Manhattan's lower east side is named for him. The northern course of Willett Street, above Delancey Street, is presently occupied by the Samuel Gompers Houses. A street in Albany, New York, bordering Washington Park is named for Willett. A memorial plaque commemorating Willett was fixed to a boulder in the park in 1907. The boulder was struck many times by vehicles missing a sharp turn along Henry Johnson Boulevard, so the boulder and plaque were
Vincent Thomas (mayor) elected Thomas as the new mayor in 1976 by a 4-3 margin on the 27th ballot. He was re-elected as mayor by the city council for three additional term, each unopposed from 1976 to 1984. Thomas supported the construction of the Waterside development, as well as the downtown revitalization efforts. Mayor Vincent Thomas held a meeting with the Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1983 to discuss Norfolk's controversial school busing plan. The busing program was discontinued in 1986. Thomas actively supported the candidacy's of Norfolk's second African-American city council member. He declined to seek re-election in 1984. Shortly after his decision