Controversy Swells Around "Sean Bell Way" Naming

Wow, this article is really bringing out the racist scumbag police apologists, isn't it?

Sure, there are some racist comments here, but the vast majority of them seem to stem from people who are genuinely sick and tired of seeing violent criminals being held up like some type of hero. I am no police apologist, but I really can't blame any cop for using their service weapon when facing the imminent threat of death by car. Did the cops fire too many bullets? Yes, probably, but that in NO WAY makes Sean Bell worthy of any type of tribute. Just because the cops were wrong doesn't mean that what Sean Bell was doing was right. Get it?

what really sucks is we're bitching about street names instead of talking about how fucked up police brutality is. this is such a tangent.

You are in a lot more danger from Sean Bell and his boys than the police, I can guaranty that. Go hang out in Bell's projects in Far Rock.

where are the streets named after the teachers, educators and community leaders who care to make the lives of our children (the future) better? instead one of OUR city streets is being desecrated in the name of this cockroach thug. a drug dealer and a felon. this is just another sick and twisted attempt of a blinded community hoping to be heard by again playing the 'victim' card. it fucking stinks and i'm sick of it.

yeaah, ive made a difference...im important on the internets.

And Belll and fiancé already had 2 kids. What a class act to wait that long to marry her. Sorry not class act; HERO!

A true class act, ogling at women at a strip club on the night before his wedding. If he truly loved his fiancee, he wouldn't need to stare at other women.

Sean Bell was a thrice convicted crack dealer who gained the attention of police that night because someone in his group threatened to "go get my gat" after being involved in a confrontation with other people at the strip club (apparently while trying to procure the services of a hooker). He sealed his fate when he used a 2,000 lb. vehicle as a weapon by driving it at a cop. I have no sympathy for this parasite.

BTW, Sean Bell and Nicole Paltre never applied for a marriage license. In NYS, a couple cannot be married less than 24 hours after a license has been issued. They never planned to be married the next day and this whole "wedding day" BS was likely created by his family after his death (probably at the urging of Sharpton) to drum up sympathy from the public.

Some communities really need to reassess the meaning of the word "hero".

Pick a street full of prostitutes and drug dealers and call it "The Sean Bell Way".

There's already a Bell Blvd in Queens. Just add a "Sean" to the existing signs. The guidos in Bayside would love it.

"Dead Drunk Driving Drug Dealer Way"

I vote to rename Avenue of The Americas "Avenue Of The Plaxicos".

+1

Perhaps a dead end street near the scene might be more appropriate.

And this is taking up the time of any elected official because why? Sean Bell was a piece of shit criminal. How about we name the next garbage dump after this lowlife? Probably a lot more fitting.

It doesn't matter if he was a low-life. He could have been teaching blind kids with AIDS by day and it doesn't change the fact he was just a victim that night, not a hero.

NO STREET NAMING FOR YOU!

I respectfully disagree. A victim is only a victim when they did nothing wrong. This thug aimed his car at police and hit the gas. He got killed. Too bad.

This idiot barely deserves a Darwin Award.

Thanks Gothamist. I meant to reply to a different post.

Any community should be proud of it's heroes, not it's victims. Sean Bell did nothing that night to qualify as a hero, even if he lived a blameless life. Please explain to me how naming a street after him elevates his community to strive higher.

perhaps a street name should be considered if the family and sharpton withdraw the civil case against the officers involved. otherwise, fuck off!

I say to let them create Sean Bell Way. As long as they pick one of the crappiest streets in the city to rename. The street has to fit the man it's named after.

A median 'Strip'?

Times Square

Raymond "Ready" Martinez Square

This is retarded. The explanation that the tragedy of the event is worthy of commemoration is ridiculous. We don't rename streets for the victims of civilian on civilian violence. Doing so for someone who was killed by the NYPD is similarly pointless. Additionally, you have to note that Sean Bell, even if you disagree with the verdict in the criminal trial, was not without some responsibility for his own death.

Actually we do, but usually larger structures. How about the RFK bridge, JFK Airport?

Those are normally reserved for people who are notable for doing good deeds, or in RFK's case, being part of an American royal family.

"We don't rename streets for the victims of civilian on civilian violence."

Ari Halberstam

That's a ramp, not a street.

I am sick and tired of the way Sean Bell has been made into a martyr. He and his ex-con friends were in a skanky club notorious for drug dealing, violence and prostitution (ask the long-suffering neighbors). He should have been home with his baby mama and not out on some booty call with his homeboys.

If anyone deserves to be memorialized, it's Amadou Diallo, the 22-year-old innocent, hard-working immigrant from West Africa who was killed in the vestibule of his building. Four officers fired 41 shots at Diallo who was hit by by 19 of the bullets fired. The officers were reportedly looking for a serial rapist and mistakenly thought Diallo had a gun, but no gun was found.

Al Sharpton in particular needs to get his priorities in order.

I am sick and tired of the way Sean Bell has been made into a martyr. He and his ex-con friends were in a skanky club notorious for drug dealing, violence and prostitution (ask the long-suffering neighbors). He should have been home with his baby mama and not out on some booty call with his homeboys.

THANK YOU.

Yes. THANK YOU.

If anyone deserves to be memorialized, it's Amadou Diallo, the 22-year-old innocent, hard-working immigrant from West Africa who was killed in the vestibule of his building.

"Amadou Diallo" doesn't make a nice sounding street name--some people can't pronounce it and a lot of people may get lost while trying to find their friend's apartment.

Tell that to the families of the 9/11 victims and see what happens.

I think a general ban on retarded street renamings is in order. Half the blocks around me are named after random assholes. It's seriously irritating that our idiotic politicians waste money on this shit.

oh the priorities and heroes of the african american community ain't what the used to be.

yeah i dunno... this is over-the-top.

Can we have an Aspiring Rapper Blvd.?

i know you all don't like to get called out, but this aspiring rapper gag is getting preeetty racist. i hope it dies soon.

but like i said, the sean bell way idea is a little intense.

Why? All rappers are black?

I heard that DMX Drive and Bin Laden boulevard are also up for voting.

Potsmoker is somehow related to Sean Bell, no doubt.