Governor David A. Paterson today announced the renaming of the Triborough Bridge as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. He was joined in Astoria Park by members of the Kennedy family, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President Bill Clinton, Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Lee Sander and numerous other dignitaries to celebrate Robert F. Kennedy’s contributions and service to the State of New York.
Governor Paterson signed this program bill into law this past summer, forty years after Kennedy’s historic presidential campaign. Kennedy represented the State of New York in the United States Senate with great distinction from 1965 until 1968. He led an inspirational race, defined by a commitment to equality and passion for service, until his untimely death. Throughout his career, Kennedy worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Americans, fight poverty and advance the civil rights movement.
“It is an honor to join the Kennedy family today to celebrate their beloved father, uncle, brother and husband – a man who served the people of our State and nation with distinction,” said Governor Paterson. “Robert F. Kennedy was a champion of social justice and human rights and his spirit is kept alive by his family’s continued commitment to those causes. I am particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to sign this bill into law, making possible the renaming of the Triborough Bridge as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which is a fitting tribute to the man and his legacy.”
“In addition, I am also pleased to announce that in collaboration with the RFK Center, educators from the New York State Union of Teachers (NYSUT) and the New York State Education Department, public school students in the fourth, eighth and twelfth grades will benefit from a new addition to their curriculum, a set of RFK Lesson Plans, titled ‘Speak Up, Speak Out: Robert F. Kennedy, Champion of Social Justice,’” added Governor Paterson. “This will ensure that future generations of New Yorkers continue to learn about Robert F. Kennedy’s commitment to helping others.”
The Triborough Bridge is located on Interstate 278 and is operated by the State of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority. Opened in 1936, the facility now consists of three bridges, a viaduct, and 14 miles of approach roads connecting Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. The bridge serves as a well traveled connection for those heading to destinations in New York City, Long Island and Upstate New York.
(Dov Gordon – YWN NYC)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
11 Responses
A WASTE OF SCARCE TAXPAYER MONEY, WHILE THE COUNTRY IS COLLAPSING FINANCIALLY.
TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY–FIDDLING, WHILE ROME BURNS!
It’s a waste of taxpayer money to change the name of a bridge? How is that, Einstein?
kennedy airport, kennedy bridge, what else will they name keneddy here in ny?
Amama – You surely are too young to remember the 60s – JFK and RFK were inspirational political figures, good for America and good for Yidden . . . we should smile upon RFK’s memory, rather than make silly wisecracks.
And Deep Thinker – what’s really your taina? Is it fiscal or political?
It will cost the city milli8ons of dollars to change all the thousnds of sighn throughout the city.
I guess you fellas don’t realize that is costs millions of dollars to change the name of a bridge.
Mayor Bloomberg explained this on his weekly radio program on WOR. It costs millions to change all the signs on all the roads surrounding the bridge. Bloomberg estimated 2-3 million dollars.
i was wondering why the price of the subway is increasing!
Against a nearly $40 billion expense budget – cost is peanuts
2-3 million dollars buys a lot of peanuts, or anything else. if nyc has money to spare (which they really, really don’t), i’m more than willing to help them out.
#3, good point.