St. Louis' large Delmar Blvd to be renamed "Barack Obama Blvd" to help bridge the racial divide!

[FrenchieCat]

Change and Unity is coming to one small slice of America early.

Delmar Blvd. is a large Boulevard that divides Blacks from Whites, with the Black population overwhelmingly on one side of the Boulevard and Whites on the other. It is said that renaming the Blvd. after Barack Obama will signal a move towards unity possible by Barack Obama symbolism used to bridge the current divide.
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Excerpts of the Article below which includes a video at the site:

She says the street still would be known as Delmar, but six
signs would be posted to honor the president-elect for his
accomplishments and message of hope and unity.

A streets committee must approve the name
change before aldermen can vote on it, and it would need yes votes from 15 out of 28 to pass.

Triplett called the naming an "excellent opportunity to acknowledge one of our nation's truly transformational leaders." She added, "His words united people of every race, religion and background. It is my hope that this symbolic act in St. Louis will be an important step toward fostering that same unity and partnership in our great city."

Triplett said four other city aldermen have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=161705

It has not yet been approved, but appears to be heading for victory.

[janx]

1. Wonderful!

Delmar is a major St. Louis street. :party:

[FrenchieCat]

2. I guess that Barack Obama is about to infect America with the Unity Bug!

Can't wait! :)

[Cleita]

3. Yes, let's have a Barack Obama Boulevard in every city.

Also, let us name a city dump or sewage treatment plant in every city, in memory of George W. Bush.

[Ino]

4. This is half-assed

Why not just re-name it outright? Cowards.

Everyone would call it Delmar anyway, LOL. I live nearby.

[FrenchieCat]

5. We renamed a street MLK Blvd....and initially it continued to be called by its former name......

but little by little, that changed.

That's change.

BTW, why is this half-assed.
Can you provide more details?
Thanks.

[Ino]

12. It's like passing a non-binding resolution

What's the point? Honoring Obama by not-really naming a street after him. Are they afraid that REALLY changing the name wouldn't fly, so they do it half-assed? Pfffttt. St. Louis is a Democratic stronghold. They ought to REALLY change the name as a nose-thumbing to the Repukes who voted for McCain. Cowards, I say.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

7. They do the same thing here in Chicago

There are lots of streets that have "honorary" names - e.g. East Wacker Drive is "Honorary Jerusalem 3000 Drive".

It's probably a hell of a lot easier to do it that way than redrawing all the maps and records that have the current street name on it.

[Sherman A1]

10. I drive past the Delmar exit on 170 everyday

and really, how much difference this would make I don't know.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Cowards?

Most cities don't officially rename streets, they just unofficially do it.

It happens a lot in Salt Lake.

300 West in part of downtown is John Stockton Drive.

200 East in part of downtown is Rosa Parks Blvd.

300 South in part of downtown is Broadway.

400 South in part of downtown to the university is University Blvd.

500 South in part of downtown is Cesar E Chavez Blvd.

600 South in part of downtown is Martin Luther King Blvd.

[elkston]

6. I dunno. This could cause a backlash increasing racial tensions.

Its probably too soon to start putting Barack's name on streets and highways. Let him serve out his first team and be successful as I predict. Then, let the tributes flow ...

[Cha]

8. I think it's a great idea! An

anti-fear move..just do it 'cause it's very positive and it will work.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Ordinarily, I'd be firmly against naming things after living people, but...

...since Obama is awesome, and because I love him and the family 2 death, I will just be a hypocrite and say, "Yeah Hey"!!! to the idea.

Fucking J. Edgar let them name a facility after him while he was still alive, and there was Reagan airport while that old turd was still kickin', so fuck it, the old rule about waiting for folks to die is dead.

:toast: