Graphic Design by Caleb Thomas

by Elizabeth Field

On November 1, the Board of Public Works rejected the proposal to rename State Street Martin Luther King Jr. Street, but passed a resolution that included the formation of an ad hoc committee, appointed by Mayor Carolyn Peterson, to review "equally visible and significant ways" for honoring Dr. King.

The resolution states, in part, that the city should name an ad hoc committee, figure out a proposal for honoring Dr. King, and make a formal proposal to the appropriate city board by January 15, 2007. As of press time January 9, the committee has not been officially named.

Pete Meyers, who was on the MLK Jr. Street renaming committee, will likely serve on the city's ad hoc committee. He says the proposal to rename State Street is still in the mix, but that it likely won't happen. He speculated that other options for honoring Dr. King might be renaming the library, which several community members who are opposed to renaming State Street have suggested in the past as an alternative.  

Meyers said that the mayor sent emails January 9 to potential members of the ad hoc committee, with six possible dates listed as a potential first meeting.

"I think the committee will be made up roughly of half people who support renaming State Street and half people who oppose it," Meyers said.

Mayor Carolyn Peterson could not be reached for comment on January 9.

The proposal to rename State Street Martin Luther King Jr. Street was first put forth over a year ago by a group led by former Ithaca High School students. The former IHS students had been part of a support group called Circle of Recovery, led by local youth advocate, Gino Bush, and they gave the Board of Public Works a petition with more than 1,100 signatures on it.

The ad hoc committee currently being formed will be charged with finding "equally visible and significant ways to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and thereafter promptly should enact such tribute."

Meyers believes it will take more than a year for this tribute to be figured out, though the resolution also calls for no less than $20,000 in the 2007 budget to help defray to costs of such a tribute.