Nov. 26, 2013 By Christian Murray
Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. has introduced legislation to restore the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge back to its original name, the Queensboro Bridge.
Vallone along with many Queens’ residents and business owners have objected to the change since the city renamed the Queensboro Bridge in 2011. Vallone voted against the name change and has championed the issue ever since.
Community Board 2, which represents Sunnyside/Long Island City and Woodside, opposed the renaming. Meanwhile, the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce also gave the renaming the thumbs down.
“While I realize this bill will not pass before the end of my term, I wanted to start the process so that Queens elected officials who come after me can restore the Queensboro Bridge to its rightful owners while simultaneously providing an appropriate honor for the late Mayor Koch,” said Council Member Vallone.
The bridge was renamed the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in 2011 to coincide with his 86th birthday.
Vallone opposed the renaming at the time, claiming that the bridge was not the appropriate venue to honor him. He was an outspoken critic of the proposal from the get-go.
At the time of the renaming, Vallone said:
“Mayor Ed Koch is truly a great man and deserving of an honor like this, but renaming a landmark so closely linked to our borough’s culture and history is not appropriate,” he said. “The city would not rename the Brooklyn Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge should be treated equally.”
Vallone was allegedly punished by Council Speaker Christine Quinn for coming out against the bridge. His discretionary funds were suddenly slashed the year of the vote–hurting many non-profit groups in Astoria.
Vallone’s legislation instead renames the Manhattan Municipal Building the Ed Koch Manhattan Municipal Building.
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2 Comments
I see the point but what’s done is done.
One of the most infuriating things Bloomberg did.