Move to rename Gary streets after Malcolm X will advance

Council vote isn’t needed because of law

“I might not be able to vote on it, but I support this. We are a city that is supposed to embrace our heritage and love for one another.” — Councilman

Mike Brown

An effort to officially rename Virginia, Ellis and Georgia streets for civil rights leader Malcolm X will move forward after Gary officials Tuesday learned the plan commission action approving the change in 2019 became city law.

Council Attorney Rinzer Williams said he has looked into state statute and has found the past actions over the years taken by both the common council and plan commission mean the plan commission’s action unanimously approving the name change Sept. 24, 2019, has become law.

Williams said the council gave the plan commission authority to authorize street name changes in September 2009. After petitioners successfully completed the process with the plan commission to rename the three streets — which form one length of road — and the commission approved the change, the measure was to be forwarded to the council.

The council then had 90 days to act, either approving or vetoing the plan. According to state statute, since the plan commission’s vote was in the affirmative and 90 days passed without any action, the measure is now law, Williams said.

“With all that information, my legal opinion is no action is required by this body,” Williams said. It is unclear why the measure was not forwarded to the council.

Mayor Jerome Prince said the effort to name a street in honor of Malcolm X goes back to at least 2000 when he first served on the common council, but it had little support from the council or administration of the time. This latest effort, the plan commission approval and the lack of council action occurred under the prior administration.

Prince said now that his administration has been apprised of the background, there is no use whatsoever in fighting and continuing to oppose something that has gone through the

processes already.

“The administration’s perspective is we will do whatever the necessary requirements are to advance this initiative,” he said.

Community activist Kwabena Rasuli, who spearheaded the latest effort to rename the streets, said the resolution has been a long time coming. He said it was important the city had street names and heroes not tied in some way to the slave trade.

“It’s imperative people define their own heroes and heroines,” Rasuli said.

Councilmen Mike Brown, D-At Large, and Cozey Weatherspoon, D-2nd, voiced their support for the name change.

“I might not be able to vote on it, but I support this. We are a city that is supposed to embrace our heritage and love for one another,” Brown said.

Councilman Clorius Lay, D-At Large, said if he had the opportunity to vote, he would not support the measure because there are unanswered questions about the costs to residents and businesses on those streets that will have to change their legal documents and marketing materials. The cost to change street signs would be minimal.

Lay said he has a great deal of respect for Malcolm X and saw him speak when he was a young man but his concerns for the economic impact on some city residents and businesses come first.