There he goes again: City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. of Astoria, proposing common-sense legislation that wouldn’t even be necessary if half his colleagues were half as smart as he is.
Vallone wants to ban the renaming of city infrastructure for people who are still alive. He, like 75 percent of Queens residents, thought the renaming of the Queensboro Bridge for former Mayor Ed Koch was a slap in the face for our borough. And he may also be thinking of the poor choice former Mayor Rudy Giuliani made in renaming the Manhattan jail for ex-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who turned out to be a criminal himself, and is still behind bars.
Naming things for living people is largely a ploy to maintain their political allegiance, Vallone says. And, we would add, it’s just plain tacky. His bill makes sense.
Given their continuing contributions to the city, it’s likely that one day something will be named for either Vallone or his father, the former council speaker. Or both. But not until long after they’re gone. And maybe by that time, motorists will already be getting tickets for drinking Big Gulps while driving along the Michael R. Bloomberg Belt Parkway.
Welcome to the discussion.
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