[FourPeas]

The local news coverage of this last night was fascinating. A local judge, who supports the name change, was down-right insistent that those who opposed the name change were racist. The whole coverage was absolutely fascinating.

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."

[breakem]

...........and Franklin is named after?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Most of the MLK streets with which I am familiar are in areas of towns that are noted for drug dealers and prostitution.

Hardly a tribute.

[cripplecreek]

I was born under a bad sign.

[RobRoy]

"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. "

It's most definitely true here in Seattle.

[The Other Harry]

"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.

Perhaps some day this "youth leader" will figure out that self-esteem is not something which is given.

[FourtySeven]

Failure to rename street for MLK called a sad sign

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!

[u-89]

>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

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.

[truthingod]

The battle over the name change came out of consideration for those living on that street who would have great cost in changing their business stationary and other mail issues.
Grand Rapids already has an MLK park. Why a street name change? My guess the community needed one more thing to divide it. I agree with renaming the part of 131 going through Grand Rapids that name possibly. Last time it was over Rosa Parks circle and then it was whether or not Grand Rapids Public Schools should lower their acedemic grade point for sport participation to 2.0. They lost.

[Arrowhead1952]

In Austin Tx, they renamed 19th Street as MLK. Businesses were highly PO'ed because they had to change all their signs, letterheads, business cards, etc. It is a fairly long street and has some of the worst crime areas once it crosses to the east side of IH35.

Austin also renamed 1st Street as Ceaser Chavez. Same problems with the buiness owners when that happened.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[ASA.Ranger]

Thanks for the post.

Richmond, Virginia, is now host to Lincoln and son thanks to the National Park Service.

The next move is to rename the former capital of the South to The City of Martin Luther King.

I fully expect the Lee Jackson Highway in Northern Virginia to be renamed Martin Luther King Highway. It is only a matter of time before the heritage of the Founders and Patriots is washed away. No memory, no honor and no integrity will hasten to pave the way for Liberal RATs, socialists and communists.

[SGCOS]

For what it's worth, we have the Martin Luther King Highway, and it's an exit off the Ronald Reagan Highway (I25).

Yeah, but who gives $hit?

Good point.

[Old Professer]

Naming a street after King is a guaranteed way to lower the property values.

[Keltik]

>>
in Grand Rapids at least, there is a persistent resistance to name changes that involve people of color
<<

I'm still waiting for an explanation of why "people of color" is acceptable, but "colored people" is not.

[lilylangtree]

Let the issue die. Enough is enough. Considering that Coretta King is getting dipsy doodle and with everything else name after MLK, more so than places in WV named after Robert C. Byrd, it's time to call a halt. The man's got a national holiday named after him along with numerous streets, buildings, bridges, etc. throughout the US for cryin' out loud.

[BSunday]

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."

Seems to me it's more like a trend of every street and landmark in town being changed to "names of color". What is this, some kind of conspiracy ? Get your self esteem somewhere else.

[TC Rider]

I've been in a lot of American cities and every MLK blvd I've ever seen starts as a broad blvd with flowers in the median leading directly to the worst part of town.

In no time at all the flowers are replaced with litter, and the corners are congested with druggies and hookers.

MLK must be so proud.

[Denver Ditdat]

Next time, instead of changing XYZ Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, let's honor one of the men who fought other battles to keep their fellow Americans free. I, for one, would love to see a "Benjamin O. Davis Way" or a "Lee Archer Road" instead of yet another MLK street sign. Come on, politicos, there are plenty of other black Americans who deserve recognition. You do them a disservice when you focus exclusively on Rev. King.