|
|
In The Spotlight...
Curb Your Car Coalition
Curb Your Car Coalition is a group of community organizations and individuals working toward sensible and appropriate transportation options to reduce car use. The Coalition seeks environmental, health and safety, social and economic benefits for Tompkins County through education, planning, policy and implementation.
more >
The SWARM...
|
Ithaca Board of Public Works/Mayor's Office Announce Public Forum, January 30th, on Changing Name of State Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. StreetWe are finally on a move to rename State Street in Ithaca after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To this point, we have obtained close to 1350 signatures (of individuals) and 50 businesses on State Street signing on in excited agreement with the change! The Forum will be on Monday, January 30th, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Beverly Livesay Room of the D.S.S. Building (320 W. State Street) for information about the street renaming process and for public input on the proposed renaming of State Street in to Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. Our Martin Luther King, Jr. Street/Friends of the Circle of Recovery group has gone before the Board of Public Works to present the idea for the change. The Public Hearing referred to below is the first "official" hearing that sets us in the direction of the change. If you are in favor of this change, please come out to this Public Hearing! Those unable to attend the Forum should submit comments by February 6 to the Board of Public Works, 108 E. Green St. or to the City Clerk via email at julieh@cityofithaca.org Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Questions and Answers History The Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Committee/Friends of the Circle of Recovery is a diverse group of local volunteers carrying on the vision of Ithaca High School students from the 2004 Circle of Recovery class, who decided to advocate for the City of Ithaca, NY to recognize one of the great human rights leaders of the 20th century through the naming of a major thoroughfare in his memory. Feeling a contemporary need for the wisdom of Dr. King’s legacy, these students set out to preserve, protect, and promote his message through grassroots community education on the importance of honoring the good in people. We feel that this name change is just one step in a larger vision of working to end racism in our community. Why State Street? State Street is one of the well-traveled streets in our city. It runs from the west side of Ithaca through the center of town (the Commons) and on up past Cornell to the city limit. It encompasses a spectrum of neighborhoods and populations, including low-income, commercial, student housing, and higher-income residential. What better street with which to honor Dr. King than one which is well known and well traveled? Why Do This At All? Martin Luther King, Jr. lived and shared a vital message of justice, equality and human rights and he deserves to be honored. There is no city or town in upstate New York bearing the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. (not Syracuse, Rochester, or Binghamton.) Yet over 200 communities nationwide have such streets, including many small towns. What is the Process for Changing the Name? The Board of Public Works is the legislative body responsible for decisions such as this. We will have amassed great public support by the signing of petitions before approaching the Board. Once they agree, it’s simply a matter of notifying the Post Office and the New York State Department of Transportation, (as part of State Street is a state highway), and then changing the actual street signs. Is There Any Cost to the City? The cost of new street signs, which is estimated at around $4,000. (The total City of Ithaca budget for the 2005 Fiscal Year is $47.004 million dollars). If you took that number of $4,000 and divided it by the population of Ithaca, (roughly 30,000) it comes out to about thirteen cents a person. Is there any cost to businesses, organizations or residents with addresses on State Street? Businesses, organizations, or residents would be able to run through their existing stock of stationery and checks, and could make the name change when those supplies are depleted and re-ordered. What about the State Theater and the State Diner? Neither of those two entities actually carries the name State Street. We see no problem in them keeping their names for business recognition or historic purposes. How Many People are in Support of this? Many! How exciting to be part of this historic process carrying on King’s legacy. We have gathered hundreds of signatures in just a few weeks and plan to gather many many more. How Can I Get Involved? You can contact Gino Bush at 277-3439 or the Workers’ Rights Center at 269-0409.
|
|
|
|
