City Lawmaker: You Need To Be Dead To Have A Bridge Named After You

If you want to have a bridge, tunnel, park, or any other piece of city owned property named after you, there’s something you’ll need to do in advance: drop dead.

That’s if City Councilman Peter Valone has his way, anyway.

Valone is pushing for a ban on naming city-owned property after the
living now that a few New York City landmarks have been named after
former politicians who are yet to kick the bucket.

Earlier this year, the Queensboro Bridge was renamed after former New
York City Mayor Ed Koch. Additionally, City Councilman Fernando Cabrera
recently announced his plan to name the Willis Avenue Bridge for former
Mayor David Dinkins.

Both Dinkins and Koch are still alive.

So what’s the problem with naming landmarks after living politicians?
Well, politicians have a tendency to be a bit on the slimy side, and
even when they’re no longer in the game, they have a little clout, and
could use something like naming a bridge after a former pol as a way to
solicit endorsements

In other words, Valone’s concerned that someone running for office could
tell a prominent former politico that he or she will name a bridge
after them if that politicians endorses their campaign.

Again, though, under Valone’s plan, if you really want a bridge named after you there’s a simple solution: just die.