AGENDA #4
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Council Naming Committee
Mayor pro tem Edith Wiggins
Council Member Sally Greene
Council Member Bill Strom
Council Member Jim Ward
SUBJECT: Public Forum on the Renaming of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
DATE: March 21, 2005
INTRODUCTION
Tonight, the Council will consider a recommendation from the Council Naming Committee to rename Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. Three names suggested by the Colony Woods West neighborhood will be considered: Jackie Robinson, Garrett Morgan, and Harriett Tubman. A tabulation of preferences expressed by residents of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street indicates that “Jackie Robinson Street” is the top choice.
BACKGROUND
Martin Luther King, Jr. Street will be renamed to avoid duplication with the renamed Airport Road, which soon will take the name Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The Council approved on December 6, 2004, a Special Committee’s primary recommendation to change the name of Airport Road to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Both street renamings are scheduled to occur on May 8, which marks the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s visit to Chapel Hill.
DISCUSSION
The Council Naming Committee invited residents of the Colony Woods West neighborhood to meetings on March 8, and March 15, to discuss the renaming of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. The committee emphasized its willingness to hear any and all ideas for street names, offering themes of People, Places, Things, Events, Ideas, Affordable Housing, Civil Rights, Education, Music or Entertainment, and Politics. The committee stated that the committee would not recommend names of living persons.
The Council Naming Committee has worked to engage in the renaming process the residents of the Colony Woods West neighborhood, which encompasses Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. In a door-to-door survey, residents from about 30 homes in the neighborhood provided suggestions for new street names (Attachment 1).
This list of 12 street names suggested by these residents was reviewed by the Engineering Department and the Department of Emergency Management Services for Orange County for duplication with other street names in Orange County, and 10 names were removed from the list. The remaining two names – Harriett Tubman and Stafford – were taken to the residents who live in 12 homes on Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. Of these two names, the residents selected Stafford (Attachment 2).
Because the name holds no cultural or historical significance to the community and was suggested by someone who does not live on Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, the Council Naming Committee recommends that it be removed it from consideration.
In an effort to support the original choices suggested by residents of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, the committee recommended for their consideration the following street names: Jackie Robinson, Garrett Morgan and Harriett Tubman. Housing staff surveyed the residents for their top choice, which was Jackie Robinson Street, receiving the most cumulative votes in first, second and third place rankings (Attachment 3).
OTHER ISSUES
The Town Engineering Department and the Department of Emergency Management Services for Orange County have recommended that the Town select original street names that present the least possible confusion for location by emergency personnel. In some cases, certain street names are advised against because of duplication or similarity with another existing street name. There is one street name with some similarity to Jackie Robinson: Robinson Road.
In addition to changing the name of the street, the Council Naming Committee responds to a recommendation from Engineering, Fire and Police departments. This recommendation is to change single-digit address numbers along Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. Orange County Emergency Management Services’ 911 Address Verification Project is expected to be under way to bring single-digit addresses into conformity with the 911 Emergency Response System. To avoid the problem that these residents would undergo because of a second address change in one year, it is recommended that the numbers be brought into conformity at the same time as the street name change.
ABOUT THE RECOMMENDED STREET NAME
The following information is excerpted from a biography from The Jackie Robinson Foundation:
“Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, on January 31, 1919, the youngest of five children of Jerry and Mallie Robinson. He grew up in Pasadena, California, and lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track at UCLA. He was widely regarded as the finest all-around athlete in the United States at that time.
“After three years in the Army, he played with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Negro League in 1945. Later that year, in a historic move that ended decades of discrimination against blacks in baseball, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. After a successful season in 1946 with its farm club, the Montreal Royals, he became the first black player in the Major Leagues since the nineteenth century.
“Jackie Robinson was deeply concerned with the struggle for civil rights. Starting in 1957, he traveled extensively to raise funds for the NAACP. These efforts led to close relationships with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other prominent leaders.”
RECOMMENDATION
The Council Naming Committee recommends that “Jackie Robinson Street” be considered as the new street name. In addition, the housing numbers of this street will be changed for conformity with the 911 Emergency Response System. Town staff members are requested to assist residents of the street with information and guidance that will help them make the necessary changes to their addresses.
NEXT STEP
We recommend that the Council consider adopting the attached resolution at its April 5 meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. List of street names suggested by residents of Colony Woods West for Martin Luther King, Jr. Street (p. 4).
2. Results of Vote in First Survey of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street (p. 6).
3. Results of Vote in Second Survey of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street (p. 7).
5. Public Forum Notice for Newspaper (p. 9).