Red Bank’s Locust Avenue won’t be legally renamed for the late Daniel J. O’Hern after all.
Instead, under the terms of an ordinance approved by the borough council last night, the street will undergo a ceremonial renaming in honor of the late mayor and state Supreme Court associate justice, who grew up on Locust.
That suits Locust Avenue residents just fine.
One of them, Amy Goldsmith, canvassed her neighbors after Mayor Pasquale Menna proposed a legal name change and came away with a petition with 45 signatures of those opposed.
“Everybody wanted to honor the judge, but felt there were other ways to do it,” Goldsmith said at Monday night’s bimonthly council meeting. “Some residents had known the O’Hern family and played with him as a kid.”
But all were concerned about the impacts of having two names for the street, and the hassles of changing account information, identification cards and other materials.
Mayor Pasquale Menna had previously said residents would be able to choose whether to identify themselves as residents of Locust Avenue or Justice Daniel O’Hern Way, much as those on Drs. James Parker Boulevard can opt to use the older name, West Bergen Place.
Shortly before the council was to vote on the proposed change, Menna said he had changed his mind about making th O’Hern designation a legal one.
“I’ve spoke with representatives of the O’Hern family, and the consensus is that they don’t wish for this effort to do a good thing to be mired in controversy,” Menna said. “It will be a ceremonial change to O’Hern Way.”
Goldsmith said she, too, had heard from a member of the O’Hern family. “They’re wonderful people,” she said.
“I’m very pleased,” she added. “There’s no controversy here.”
I am pleased with this outcome, but on the other hand, I am disgusted that the mayor would even suggest such a plan in the first place. He apparently doesn’t have much foresight if he can not even think about the negative impact on the residents of our street. Perhaps he should think how he would like to have his address changed first.
Just how much time does the council waste with such silly pet projects without giving thought to the community impact first? (Think plastic bag ban for local retailers.) Geeze… these guys really do seem like a bunch of time wasting bozos trying to make a name for themselves instead of improving our community.
The People living in the O’hern house sure did a nice job fixing it up…Sunday was a nice day ,I went to a great car show right here in Red Bank.The Place was packed with some great cars and some bikes.. Last year the show was not as good but I saw so many locals with there rides..I was wondering why R B GREEN didn’t cover it?? I guess hot rods and classice are not green but a Ferrari is… Just had to get that off my chest JOHNNYSTUF
Not intending to speak on their behalf JOHNNY but RBG probably has come to think of these car shows like I have. I liken them to weekly sales at the supermarket. They are so common place in every town on just about every weekend over the last few years.. How many times can one see the same rides? These shows used to be a novelty, not anymore. Forty Ferraris (None needing an emergency tow truck) is a pretty unique event.