But Then What Would They Do?

The will of the people lies in the hands of elected representatives:

The Republican leader of the City Council is fighting back against one of the most common criticisms of the 51-member body: that it wastes its time by renaming dozens of streets each year.

Council Member James Oddo of Staten Island is introducing a bill that would give the city’s Department of Transportation a responsibility currently held by the council, calling for the agency to sign off on new street names once they are approved by local community boards.

Council members would, however, still have the authority to call up a street name for a hearing and vote so long as six or more other members support doing so. Mr. Oddo said he likes the tradition of renaming streets in the city, but said, “The council has other pressing matters to handle.”

In 2006, the council approved 127 new street and place names; on May 30, it approved another 50, including naming an intersection after a dancer and choreographer, Alvin Ailey, and a street after an actor, Jerry Orbach.

. . .

Mr. Oddo admitted that he doesn’t think there will be widespread support for his plan.