A panel of New York State Assembly members voted Wednesday to move forward with a bill that would rename Donald J. Trump State Park in upstate New York.
"Our parklands should be reflective of New Yorkers that we can be proud of, New Yorkers that have expressed our values,” Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, a Democratic sponsor of the bill, said about the plan. “There are a lot of other New Yorkers who are worthy of the honor of having a park named after themselves.”
The state legislature's tourism committee voted 14-7 to advance the bill.
The land was acquired by the state in 2006 when Trump donated it after first considering building a golf course on the property that never came to fruition.
“This is my way of trying to give back,” Trump, a New York native, was reportedly quoted as saying at the time.
Park Commissioner Erik Kulleseid told assembly members at a budget hearing last month that he frequently receives emails about changing the name of the park and that a request from Trump to keep his name on the property was not included in the deed, so it is not binding.
In Florida, plans are underway to add the former president’s name to landmarks, including a push to name U.S Highway Route 27 after him.
Democratic California Rep. Linda Sanchez said earlier this month she is working on legislation to ensure that no federal property is ever named after Trump in the future.
"I am working on a bill that would mean that nothing — not even a bench, no airport, no highway, no school — nothing – ever bear the name of this traitor," she said about the bill.
