Posted on 04/01/2004 11:43:14 AM PST by FourPeas
A Grand Rapids commissioner who led the unsuccessful drive to rename Franklin Street for Martin Luther King Jr. said he has no immediate plan to return with a request for a commemorative designation and those who support changing the name say they have not given up.
Third Ward Commissioner Robert Dean said the 4-3 vote against changing the name of Franklin was a "sad commentary" when "you still have a majority of residents and businesses on that street saying this is what they want."
"I think it really changed the process" of renaming streets, Dean said.
Four commissioners -- Lynn Rabaut and Rick Tormala of the 2nd Ward, and James Jendrasiak and Roy Schmidt of the 1st Ward -- never wavered in their opposition Tuesday, a week after emotional appeals from residents and community leaders who said the slain civil rights leader deserved more than just a city park with his name.
Mayor George Heartwell joined Dean and 3rd Ward Commissioner James White in supporting the name change.
Heartwell even apologized to Dean, saying he didn't think the change was "such a big deal" until he heard passionate voices at a hearing March 23.
Commissioners who voted down the change said they would endorse King commemorative markers on Franklin, much like Cesar Chavez Way on Grandville Avenue SW.
Dean said he has no plan to pursue it. Instead, he will wait to hear from the Racial Justice Institute, which started the campaign to change Franklin's name two years ago.
However, the institute's director, the Rev. David May, said the effort to officially change the name likely will continue.
May said naming Martin Luther King Park and Rosa Parks Circle did not come easily, and neither will changing the name of Franklin Street.
"Seemingly, in Grand Rapids at least, there is a persistent resistance to name changes that involve people of color," May said. "We find that disturbing."
May was among more than a dozen people, mostly blacks, who sang "We Shall Overcome" as they left the meeting on the sixth floor of City Hall. There were tears and pledges of political retribution against the commissioners who voted no.
The four commissioners gave several reasons. Rabaut noted that a park is named for King, and Tormala said a commemorative designation with creative signs actually "would be better."
Franklin Street is a mix of low-income housing and distinguished brick residences worth $200,000 or more.
It has pockets of businesses, several churches, Martin Luther King Park and the headquarters of Grand Rapids Public Schools. The Clark Retirement Community is near the eastern border with East Grand Rapids.
In other cities, streets named for King are "usually associated with depressed areas," said Roxanne Wilda, 53, who has lived on Franklin in the Ottawa Hills neighborhood for 20 years and was concerned about her property value falling.
"Of course," she said. "But how many people would tell you that?"
A few doors down, Irene Hazenberg said Franklin's rich history would be disturbed by a name change. The city's public school headquarters was the original site of Calvin College.
"The idea is to honor a black man, but in doing so they're creating many divisions," Hazenberg, 43, said of the debate. "Why not (U.S.) 131? Most of us say the name is a great idea -- just don't take our street's name."
At Franklin and Fuller Avenue, standing next to the ball diamond at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Frank Burrell III said the rejection would hurt morale, especially among young blacks.
"It's very important when you see something that stands for you. It gives you self-esteem," said Burrell, 42, a youth leader who grew up on Franklin.
Joseph Booker was walking with two nephews near the park. He said a commemorative street designation for King "might work."
"There might be other ways, too. Maybe a new city building," Booker, 59, said. "Dr. King wouldn't make a ruckus about it. He wasn't that type of person. He won the Nobel Peace Prize."
Press Reporter Barton Deiters contributed to this report.
I'm also fascinated by the way the article ends:
"Dr. King wouldn't make a ruckus about it. He wasn't that type of person. He won the Nobel Peace Prize."
Hardly a tribute.
My guess would be Ben
Go to any city in America with a street called Martin Luther King Drive - and run for your life!
See also Along Martin Luther King: Travels on Black America's Main Street
Perhaps some day this "youth leader" will figure out that self-esteem is not something which is given.
Yeah...God knows, there aren't ENOUGH MLK bulovards, streets, sidewalks, driveways, stairsteps, cars, buildings, outhouses....
OH THE HUMANITY! WE'VE DENIED ONE NAME CHANGE! THE NATION IS ON A BACKSLIDE, WHICH WILL CULMINATE IN THE ELECTION OF DAVID DUKE THIS NOVEMBER! CUT DOWN ALL TREES NOW, BEFORE THE LYNCHINGS START!
My, what an interesting coincidence... I wonder why that is?
It's a long street. Parts of it are in terrible areas. Other parts of it are in newly booming areas. There's a lot of interesting things going on in that part of town.
> "It's very important when you see something that stands for you. It gives you self-esteem," said Burrell
I find the modern superficial concept of self esteem fascinating. I imagine people who live in towns like Downsville, Red Dirt, or Muddy Creek could do a lot better in life if they renamed their towns MLKville.
But if the people of Grand Rapids want to change the name that bad they should make a Federal issue out of it. They should claim their civil rights are being denied because of racism and they'll get their way. Hell, it's an election year, they should send a letter to the White House and demand action - they'll probably get it.
I hear you there! You definitely don't want a flat tire on that street.
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