Designates a portion of state route 102 in the hamlet of Uniondale, Nassau county, beginning at the intersection of Uniondale Avenue and Front Street and ending at the intersection of Hawthorne Avenue and Front Street, as "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way".
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7497
SPONSOR: Raynor TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the highway law, in relation to desig-
nating a portion of the state highway system as "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way"
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To designate portion of the state highway as "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way".
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new section to the highway law to designate portion of
state route one hundred two in hamlet of Uniondale, Nassau County as
"Melvin Harris, Jr. Way".
Section 2 states that the commissioner of transportation shall provide
the installation and maintenance of signing of the highway.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
As a Commissioner for the Nassau County Commission on Human Rights and
President of the Hempstead Chapter of the NAACP, Mr. Melvin Harris Jr.
advocated passionately for positive change; he fought for inclusion,
opportunity and upward mobility for the underserved and the disenfran-
chised. Melvin's goal was to make the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
a reality in Nassau County, where every resident is given the opportu-
nity to achieve his or her full potential. As Vice President of the
Uniondale Community Council and subsequently as President of the Nost-
rand Gardens Civic Association, Melvin advocated strongly for the Union-
dale community.
As Union Chairman of the Queens Village Depot, New York City Transit
Authority and Political Director for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local
1056, Melvin advocated for worker's rights. In 2016 the City of New York
renamed 222st in Queens Village, "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way" honoring him
for his tireless work and dedication to Queens County and the New York
City Metropolitan Transit Authority. Patty Harris, the wife of Melvin,
has requested Front Street be renamed because it is the street nearest
to the Harris home. The Executive Board and Members of the Nostrand
Gardens Civic Association, in unity with the residents of Uniondale also
advocated that the deserving and distinguished honor be bestowed upon
Melvin Harris, Jr.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7497
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 7, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAYNOR -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of
the state highway system as "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-k to
2 read as follows:
3 § 344-k. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as
4 "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way". That portion of state route one hundred two
5 in the hamlet of Uniondale, Nassau county, beginning at the intersection
6 of Uniondale Avenue and Front Street and ending at the intersection of
7 Hawthorne Avenue and Front Street, shall be designated and known as
8 "Melvin Harris, Jr. Way".
9 § 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the instal-
10 lation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system
11 as designated pursuant to section one of this act. However, to avoid
12 confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the desig-
13 nation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of
14 ceremonial nature and the official name of such highway shall not be
15 changed as a result of this act.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11308-01-9
