Street Renamings

One of the responsibilities of the New York City Council is approving requests to have streets renamed for praiseworthy individuals. Since the tragic events of September 11th, streets throughout our city have been renamed for those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center disaster.

Consequently, deserving individuals were honored and their memories have been immortalized on street signs ranging from Police officer and Firefighters rushing to save people to innocent men and women working to provide for their families.

This Country has also named many streets after important historical figures and community leaders. Therefore, we should not denigrate those men and women by considering naming a street after a convicted felon and racist.

Among the 53 names being considered for the honor of having a street named for them in our city is Sonny Carson. Mr. Carson is a self-proclaimed anti-white, anti-semite and convicted felon. In the 1970s, he was arrested on charges related to a murder, and was eventually sentenced to seven years in prison for kidnapping. He also led many racially charged boycotts and protests causing divisiveness and violence in many neighborhoods.

Thankfully, Speaker Christine Quinn and the majority of the City Council are opposing this recommendation because of Sonny Carson’s history. Not surprisingly, Charles Barron is fighting for the street naming and if the city Council votes against it, he will ask the body to provide personal biographies of each individual considered for a street naming.

Let’s urge our representatives not to be bullied and strong armed. They should vote with their conscience against those individuals who have none.

We should not dishonor those individuals past or future who have earned their right to have their name emblazoned on the street corners of this great city.

NY Sun Article