Town considers naming Route 34B bridge

Last July, after a delay of six months, the bridge that carries travelers safely over Salmon Creek on New York State Route 34B was opened. For those unfamiliar with the area, this bridge is located just north of Lansing Middle School.

Last Wednesday during the Town of Lansing Town Board meeting, a discussion item was raised on the agenda: should the bridge be named after an individual or organization?

Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne took the debate to Facebook, posting a status asking his friends what they thought about naming the bridge.

“My personal opinion is we should leave it alone, but I also wanted to send out the information to the residents,” LaVigne said. “I don’t know where this is going to go, but what I don’t want is that all of a sudden this action is taken and no one is aware of it.”

At one point late last week, the post had received more than 70 responses. Some were joke responses, others made serious suggestions of names to be considered, and plenty said that there is no need to name the bridge after anyone.

LaVigne said that he appreciated the discourse and is confident the town board can use the information to make a more informed decision, whatever decision that might be.

“They’re talking to each other, but they’re not yelling,” he said. “Right now, everybody is so binary about everything, it’s either yes or no. It’s like West Side Story on steroids. It’s one big tailspin to ‘join our side instead of the other side, and once our side gets the majority, we’ll push our stuff through.’ That’s ridiculous because that’s not how public servants should work. They should help the public, in my opinion.”

In his Facebook post, LaVigne mentioned two names that were floated as possible namesakes for the bridge: Peter Wheeler and Gus Isaac. He was clear that those are not the only two names under consideration and that not naming the bridge after anyone is also being considered.

LaVigne also mentioned Raymond Buckley, whom the elementary school is named after.

Some commenters suggested naming the bridge after United States military veterans. LaVigne used Soldier Field in Chicago, where the National Football League’s Chicago Bears play, as an example of how you can name something for a large group of people who deserve the honor.

No matter what the board decides, LaVigne said it will be a lengthy process with plenty of public input, which is how he thinks such processes should work.

If the decision is to name the bridge, he said he expects at least one public hearing and careful consideration of residents’ inputs.

“I would hope it would be a very lengthy process because that’s a big item,” he said. “There would be a lot of discussion. Just imagine if we had voted [during the last meeting] to name it. I think there would be a lot of public outcry, and rightfully so.”

As Lansing grows, LaVigne said he wants new residents to have an equal part in shaping decisions about how the town celebrates its history, just like residents who have been there for generations.

“You have a population of our town, which is fine, that hasn’t been here awhile and don’t know our history that are part of that discussion,” he said. “Growing towns are going to have that. You’re going to have people who move into town and don’t have a road named after them, but they’re as welcome as anyone else. As our town evolves and grows, they should have an equal voice.”

With his Facebook post, LaVigne hopes to inform the public of the discussion item and gather ideas to present to the board.

Going forward, he’s hopeful that dialogue about the bridge will continue to be respectful.

“It’s important for the board members to have that [information]. It’s almost like having an informal public hearing, as long as they’re civil to each other and don’t threaten or attack each other,” he said. “One might say, ‘Well, it’s on the web or YouTube,’ but sometimes you have to have six different ways to communicate with the public ‒ and hopefully one of those ways is what works.”

Lansing at Large appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com

In brief:

Village looks for new trustee

Following the resignation of Jeff Dobbin from the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees, the board now looks for someone to fill his place.

Dobbin resigned earlier this month for health reasons, according to a statement on the village’s website.

The board is looking for a village resident to fill Dobbin’s seat and complete his term, which ends April 30, 2024. The board of trustees meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. and the second Thursday after the first Monday at noon to discuss and vote on village-related matters.

Board members are also appointed to one or two committees to represent the village’s plans and decisions.

The board of trustees is responsible for managing the village’s property, finances and public works. It is also charged with providing good governance of the village to ensure the health, safety, comfort and welfare of village residents.