The process of changing names of places continues in America also. The effort to change the name of a famous station in New York City has intensified. Is there a possibility that President Donald Trump’s name could appear on one of the most famous and sometimes controversial landmarks in his hometown of New York City? The Republican administration this week requested key US senators to change the name of the iconic Penn Station.
The administration is working on an $8 billion plan to redesign the more than 100-year-old station, which is Manhattan’s underground transit hub (one of the busiest there). Penn Station is also known as Pennsylvania Station or New York Penn Station. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a letter on Wednesday, sought funding approval from the US Congress for repairs and other important transportation-related priorities, although he did not specify what the new name of the station should be.
Name the station after your boss
Spokespeople associated with the transport agency gave the letter, but did not answer further questions on Thursday. However, Shaun Duffy never hid that he would like to see the name of his current boss in front of the railway station.
The former Wisconsin congressman said last year, “I guess you’re asking, ‘Is this going to be a Trump station?’ At that time officials were inviting bids for the master developer of the project. He further said, “I think this name sounds good.”
Trump spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt also responded to questions about the name change earlier this year by simply saying: “Why not?” During his second term in the White House, the Republican leader has tried to improve his legacy through public works projects and has also made a lot of changes, such as building a big new ball room, Triumphal Arch i.e. Victory Gate in the White House, besides trying to change the name of the Kennedy Center, but it could not be successful.
Airport named after Trump in Florida
Not only this, earlier this month, the name of Palm Beach Airport in Florida was changed to ‘President Donald J Trump International Airport’. However, Trump, in his clarification, said that it was not his idea to change the name. But he did admit that the possibility of changing the name was discussed in talks with the Senate’s top Democrat, US Senator Chuck Schumer of New York.
But he denied that he had made the suggestion in exchange for restoring federal funding for the Gateway Project. This project is a large rail tunnel passing under the Hudson River from Penn Station to New Jersey.
Preparation to change the name of Penn Station
Earlier this year, Trump had said on Air Force One, “Chuck Schumer was the one who suggested to me to change the name of Penn Station to Trump Station.” At the same time, he also argued that it is not very wise to name such a big landmark of New York after another state.
The President said on his social media platform ‘Truth Social’, “I love Pennsylvania, but it is also a direct competitor of New York and is taking away New York’s business!” He also stressed that the idea of changing the name was given by “some leaders and people associated with the construction union, not me.”
New York’s Pennsylvania Station, like some other stations in the country, is named after the Pennsylvania Railroad. This passenger rail company is now defunct, but it built the once magnificent Midtown Station. This original station, opened in 1910, was considered a fine example of the ‘Beau Arts’ style. It had large Roman-style pillars and a very large waiting area.
Criticism of attempt to change name
However, it was demolished in 1963 to make way for Madison Square Garden, forcing passengers to pass through narrow corridors and dark train platforms beneath the famous arena. In the recently released new design, it has been said that this hub will be brought back to its original classical style. It also includes a magnificent concourse with a stone exterior, rows of pillars and high ceilings. There is also Trump’s seal and name on an inside wall.
However, the idea of changing the name is also being strongly criticized. U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler, a Manhattan Democrat, expressed his displeasure, saying Duffy’s letter points to how the Trump administration is “trying to take over Penn Station by force” and “wrest control” from local officials. Riders Alliance, a local transportation advocacy group, said the idea of a name change is “another wake-up call” that the Penn Station project could become a “billions of dollars worth of sham projects.”
“We should be talking about improving service, saving time and money, not about monuments, ribbon cuttings or changing nameplates,” project spokeswoman Danny Pearlstein said in a statement. Earlier last year, the Trump administration had ordered the National Passenger Rail Service ‘Amtrak’ to take control of this big redesign project.
Leave a Reply