The Popcorn Stand: What’s in a name?
This actually surprised me somewhat based on the extremely limited knowledge I have of the East Bay-oakland area.
But I do know some people from the East Bayoakland area. I went to college with some of them. And they strike me as people who are extremely proud of where they come from.
And it’s been my experience when someone asks them where they come from, they always state specifically the city they come from in the East Bay-oakland area. They seem to go out of their way to make sure people don’t just think they’re from the “San Francisco Bay Area.”
Never, ever have I heard someone from the East Bay when asked where they’re from say “Oh I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area” as way a way to provide a little easier reference point for people.
So I was surprised when I read the Board of Commissioners for the Port of Oakland voted to move forward with the proposed name change of Oakland’s Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.
The commissioners say this will make it easier for travelers who are actually traveling to Oakland but end up flying into San Francisco’s airport. Port Commission president Barbara Leslie said “We are standing up for Oakland and the East Bay.”
Like I said I can’t imagine the people I know from the East Bay being happy with this name change. But evidently there are those from Oakland who like the idea as there were Oakland residents who spoke during public comment at the meeting in which the decision was made in favor of the name change. Although there were those who suggested Oakland be placed first before San Francisco when it came to the proposed name change.
Not surprisingly the city of San Francisco isn’t thrilled about this idea and has threatened to sue. And those against the idea say the name change will do more harm than good as all it will do will cause confusion for those traveling to the Bay Area and I think this is a justifiable point.
I can see those flying into “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” being surprised they ended up in Oakland and not San Francisco. Maybe Oakland-san Francisco Bay International Airport isn’t such a bad idea.
I’m also reminded of Shaquille O’neal, who admitted he never knew he was actually playing in Oakland when he traveled to play the Golden State Warriors when they played in Oakland. He always thought he was in San Francisco.
And of course the proposed name change has come under ridicule. One person quipped “When Are We Renaming the 49ers? #Santa Clara.”
Which leads me to pointing out as I have many times as a 49ers fan I’m glad the Rams moved back from St. Louis to restore the traditional San Francisco 49ers-los Angeles Rams rivalry in which the San Francisco 49ers are now hosting the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara and the Los Angeles Rams are now hosting the San Francisco 49ers in Inglewood.
My guess is while those who are voting for the name change are saying they’re just trying to make it easier for travelers who are actually coming to Oakland, they’re probably looking to capitalize on the name San Francisco as well.
Which reminds me some time ago there was a suggestion in this community to rename the Porter Slough to the Porter Creek. That suggestion was ridiculed by Rick Elkins, who was then The Recorder Editor. In an editorial he wrote he suggested why not just rename Porterville to “San Francisco.”
Which reminds me of a Simpsons episode in which Marge’s sisters suggested changing the name of Springfield to “Seinfeld” to capitalize on that show’s popularity.
When it comes to the proposed name change of Oakland’s airport the airport’s three letter code wouldn’t change and would remain OAK. I admit I was mistaken when I thought the code name for San Francisco’s airport, SFO, stood for San Francisco-oakland. But actually the O was just added to SF because it just pretty much came from Francisco.
Of course it’s believed to never refer to San Francisco as “Frisco,” although I’ve never actually come across anybody from San Francisco who’s been offended by that term.
What’s in a name, anyway?