August 4, 2005: NORTON OUT TO PRESERVE 16TH STREET FOR D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2005
NORTON OUT TO PRESERVE
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that while nothing is sacred in the Congress when it comes to D.C., she will insist that “home rule be respected on the streets where our residents live and pay taxes.” Norton said that she believes that most Members will understand that local streets should remain local. She has placed a call to Rep. Henry Bonilla, who dropped a bill as he left on August recess to rename 16th Street“ Ronald Reagan Boulevard.” Bonilla’s staff has indicated that the intent was to memorialize Reagan and not to change the signs, which Norton said would be necessary if the name were to be officially changed. She said she believes she will be able to clear up the matter in the Government Reform Committee on which she serves, to which the Bonilla bill has been referred and does not expect it to be considered. Norton said, “I hope the explanation is that Rep. Bonilla, who dropped the bill as the session was ending, was unaware that 16th Streetis essentially a residential street whose chief significance is local. Unlike many streets that end downtown, 16th Streetis a primarily residential street whose Ward 1 and Ward 4 residents have made it one of our most prominent residential streets.” She said that Bonilla may have been focused on the fact that 16th Street ends at the White House and therefore may not be aware that the character of the street, even in downtown locations, is essentially local.
“ .” Bonilla’s staff has indicated that the intent was to memorialize Reagan and not to change the signs, which Norton said would be necessary if the name were to be officially changed. She said she believes she will be able to clear up the matter in the Government Reform Committee on which she serves, to which the Bonilla bill has been referred and does not expect it to be considered. Norton said, “I hope the explanation is that Rep. Bonilla, who dropped the bill as the session was ending, was unaware that is essentially a residential street whose chief significance is local. Unlike many streets that end downtown, is a primarily residential street whose Ward 1 and Ward 4 residents have made it one of our most prominent residential streets.” She said that Bonilla may have been focused on the fact that 16 Street ends at the White House and therefore may not be aware that the character of the street, even in downtown locations, is essentially local.Norton noted that two of the most important sites here are already named for President Reagan – the Ronald Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Avenuenear the White House and the Ronald Reagan National Airport. The District, an overwhelmingly Democratic city, accepted these designations without protest, even though the regional delegation and local officials were not consulted. However, she said she doubts that Reagan, whose name is synonymous with local control, would have wanted his name attached to a local street over the objections of local officials and residents for whom the street has generations of primarily neighborhood significance. Rather, she said, “Ronald Reagan, a conservative who respected tradition, might well have understood that the real significance of 16th Streetis that it has given the White House its historic address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”
near the White House and the Ronald Reagan National Airport. The District, an overwhelmingly Democratic city, accepted these designations without protest, even though the regional delegation and local officials were not consulted. However, she said she doubts that Reagan, whose name is synonymous with local control, would have wanted his name attached to a local street over the objections of local officials and residents for whom the street has generations of primarily neighborhood significance. Rather, she said, “Ronald Reagan, a conservative who respected tradition, might well have understood that the real significance of is that it has given the White House its historic address, .” near the White House and the Ronald Reagan National Airport. The District, an overwhelmingly Democratic city, accepted these designations without protest, even though the regional delegation and local officials were not consulted. However, she said she doubts that Reagan, whose name is synonymous with local control, would have wanted his name attached to a local street over the objections of local officials and residents for whom the street has generations of primarily neighborhood significance. Rather, she said, “Ronald Reagan, a conservative who respected tradition, might well have understood that the real significance of is that it has given the White House its historic address, .”