The Name Game: Triborough vs RFK Bridge

Photo via Frank Lynch's Flickr.

Earlier this month we tried to look at the Triborough Bridge as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge when Governor Spitzer brought the name change up for consideration. While RFK supporters toss around the obvious "he built bridges" metaphor, The NY Times would like to point out that he also burned them. They suggest that the city stop looking for big names to attach to their structures and streets, and instead look at who built them. As such, they nominate Andrew Haswell Green, "a giant of 19th century urban planning who has been almost entirely forgotten." Since he's not in the running yet, it looks like we're left with a yay or nay vote, so what do you think?

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By Jen Carlson in News on January 22, 2008 3:50 PM

Comments [rss]

JMH

How about if we rename it the Citi Bridge and then let the Mets' new stadium have a name that isn't shitty?

babyhitler

they gotta rename that bridge with the impossible to say name. The Kosciuszko Bridge. I can't even pronounce that shit in my head, much less with my tongue.

nik13

Considering their driving & flying skills, I'd not name an airport, a bridge or a highway after anyone named Kennedy. And if you have to, do it in Boston, not here.

Toby von Meistersinger

The bust of RFK in a small corner of Columbus Park is about all that is needed and is just the right size given his record of contributions to the State of New York.

If the bridge should be named after anyone, it should be Robert Moses calling it something like "The Robert Moses Triborough Bridge" since Moses did more for the city and state than RFK ever did.

Toby von Meistersinger

The bust of RFK in a small corner of Columbus Park is about all that is needed and is just the right size given his record of contributions to the State of New York.

If the bridge should be named after anyone, it should be Robert Moses calling it something like "The Robert Moses Triborough Bridge" since Moses did more for the city and state than RFK ever did.

bxbrian

Why not name it after Ted?

After all he's just dandy driving near open bodies of water.

Sorry, I just sort of hate Boston right now (well, all the time really).

EricGewiz

I didn't like the choices of the survey. What's wrong with calling it the Triborough Bridge? Was there anything wrong in that?

If this trend continues, the Brooklyn Bridge will be the Marty Markowitz Bridge.

EricGewiz

I didn't like the choices of the survey. What's wrong with calling it the Triborough Bridge? Was there anything wrong in that?

If this trend continues, the Brooklyn Bridge will be the Marty Markowitz Bridge.

EricGewiz

I didn't like the choices of the survey. What's wrong with calling it the Triborough Bridge? Was there anything wrong in that?

If this trend continues, the Brooklyn Bridge will be the Marty Markowitz Bridge.

EastRiver

I second the "enough the Kennedy's" theme. They aren't from here. Why is our airport named for a guy whose one claim to fame is that he died in office?

RFK might have been a Senator from New York but he was a carpetbagger like Hillary Clinton who took advantage of an opportunity as a springboard to the Presidency.

Pizza_Time

Enough with the F$^&*ng Kennedys already.

How about build a new bridge and name it after him if is is so important to continue to fellate the Kennedys?

Leave things with the name they were given.

Arent enough names of places changes with coroprate sponsorship?

Leave Bridge names alone.

Must every street have two names? It's original and one in dedication of some fallen soldier or some over worshiped govt. tool?

Enough with this renaming bullshit already.