The Little Italy Association of San Diego (LIA) officially unveiled a brand
new 2,000 square foot public piazza, Piazza Costanza, on Tuesday,
November 28th at the corner of Columbia and W. Ash Streets adjacent
to Luma Luxury Apartments. The community was invited to attend
and celebrate the opening of Little Italy’s newest, and first piazza
dedicated to a woman with San Diego leaders, sponsors, and
community members. Piazza Costanza honors Margaret “Midge”
Costanza, daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Costanza was a social
and political activist who served as a top advisor and the first
female assistant to President Jimmy Carter. The dedication included
commencement words from dignitaries, community leaders, and
friends, as well as the unveiling ceremony with a special performance,
refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.
The ceremony started with a special musical performance leading
into opening remarks from LIA’s Chief Executive Administrator,
Marco Li Mandri, followed by close friends from her professional
career and personal life, and blessing by Our Lady of the Rosary’s
Father Joe Tabigue.
“The Little Italy Association has been working with close friends of
Midge’s for a few years to bring this dedication and Piazza to fruition.
Midge contributed so much to San Diego along her professional
journey and was a huge supporter of San Diego’s Little Italy. With the
dedication, we were honored to have our newest piazza be the first
piazza to be dedicated to a woman, and such an important figure in
our community and a friend of Little Italy,” said Marco Li Mandri,
chief executive administrator of the Little Italy Association. “The
Association has been focused on curating dynamic piazzas in our
neighborhood that honor the rich history of Little Italy and the
contributions of Italians, creating an environment that welcomes
residents and visitors to sit and take in the beautiful ambience. These
piazzas have become a staple of what our neighborhood is known for.”
Known for her wit, outspoken manner, and commitment to her
convictions, she fought for the rights and dignity of all people,
particularly women, the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized
groups. The daughter of Sicilian immigrants Midge Costanza became the first City councilwoman in Rochester, New York in 1973. She later
rose to become the first female assistant to a U.S. President. Midge
moved to San Diego in the 1980s where she was active in numerous
organizations and issues. She had the rare ability to bring together
people with different viewpoints to accomplish a shared civic goal. In
honor of her outstanding service, Piazza Costanza includes a monument
with a bronze bust sculpture of Midge Costanza, custom planters with
quotes from her with enhanced landscaping, hanging flower baskets,
and tables and chairs with umbrellas.
Major contributors to the project included the Lennar Corporation,
State of California, County of San Diego, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, the
Spoon-Wallace Family, Marco and Laura Li Mandri and Family, Laurie
Black and The Lawrence Family, Joe Vecchio, and Bonnie Dumanis
and Denise Nelesen.