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Howdy everyone this is Herb. Quite a few of you know me and it’s not very often that I enlist the help of others but in this case I find that to be a must. This concerns the naming of the new connector road between Main Street (west) and Cherry Ave. Blake asked me my position on the issue a month or so ago and this was my response. Before I start, first let me state that I would like to see the ‘entire street’ from Washington Park (in the old days a park serving the predominately African American community) to Forrest Hills Park (in the old days a park serving the predominately Caucasian American community) be renamed in honor of Sally Hemings. (nuff-said about renaming the street from end to end). “Please let me make my position very clear on the 9th/10th Street connector road naming…. In my opinion the name should be "Sally Hemings Blvd/lane/Ave/etc...)" in order that she not languish in 'Last name obscurity'. (Who is Preston Ave named after?, who is King Street named after?, and for that matter who is Rugby Rd., named after? Sally Hemings not only was the confidant to the third President of the United States, travel companion, but also she was the half sister to the Presidents first wife, she was also a slave, ex-slave, mother, role model, land owner, business owner, home owner, the list goes on. There can be a plaque set on the Payton property beside the Hampton Inn that talks about the Hemings family and their contributions on 'Hemings' Hill' (Monticello) and in the local area. As far as the naming of a street after Ms. McGinnis, again it is my opinion that the street she lived on should be renamed after her with the house possibly set up as a city landmark and a plaque set in front of it telling of her life and the city could rename a school after her. Blake I'm asking for 'People' not to waver on this Sally Hemings issue. For once can the people responsible for making decisions on these matters set a precedent in the street naming convention used in this city. We should stand up to the world and say 'Yes, we are proud of the people from this area no matter what position in life they were relegated to do to no fault of their own and for those that fate caused to rise above their circumstances then they should be recognized for such", and stop ducking and dogging criticism by the 'status quo'. Let’s have City Council show some backbone and do the right thing for no other reason than 'because it's right to do'.” Well that’s the jist of it. If you agree with my acessment of the street naming issue, please call and or e-mail ‘all’ of City Council and hopefully prevent the ‘same old same old’ from happening again. If not then that’s cool. Peace. Herb Porter (electronic mail, May 14, 2000). Maurice Cox Meredith Richards David Toscano Blake Caravati Virginia Daugherty
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