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Triborough Bridge Will Be Renamed for RFK
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 6, 2008
Modified Jun 6, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 6, 2008
Modified Jun 6, 2008
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In January former Governor Spitzer addressed the idea of former New York senator Robert F. Kennedy claiming name to the Triborough Bridge. It immediately rose questions about RFK's carpetbagger status, and his importance (or lack thereof) to New York's history.
Most of you voted "nay" on the renaming of the bridge, but lawmakers have just voted for it. amNewYork reports that the final legislative approval was made on June 4th, just two days before the anniversary of his death (today). There will be "minimal budgetary impact for the cost of changing signs," but will anyone actually change what they call the bridge? The NY Times says no.
“It’s been that way for a million years,” said Morton Mozzar, an automobile-service consultant in Queens. “If they had renamed it right afterwards, O.K., like they did with J.F.K. Airport.” (The airport was called Idlewild but was renamed after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. It only seems as if the Triborough has been around for a million years. Next month it will have been open for 72 years.)
Renaming has happened before, and often doesn't stick. The Times brings up 6th Avenue vs. Avenue of the Americas (most call it the former), and starting in 2014 the New York Public Library will be named the Stephen A. Schwarzman Library. Here's a list of old New York street names -- maybe name changes can stick, no one calls Great Jones...Minthorne Street anymore. As for when the Triborough Bridge's name change will go into effect, Gov. Paterson still has to sign the bill.
Original photo via Triborough's Flickr.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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