Palm Beach is a little closer to seeing signs along Southern Boulevard that announce “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.”
The Town Council on Aug. 12 voted unanimously to approve a request for a resolution supporting the honorary name change for Southern Boulevard next to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. That resolution will be on the council’s Sept. 9 meeting agenda.
The Aug. 12 vote was essentially procedural, because Southern Boulevard is a state road that runs through several municipalities but state law requires the Florida Department of Transportation to receive resolutions or proclamations in support of the name change before signs or other markers can be placed, Town Manager Kirk Blouin told council members.
The Palm Beach County Commission on July 9 approved a resolution to support the designation. That resolution also granted the honorary name of “PBSO Motorman Highway” to the stretch of Southern Boulevard between Lion Country Safari Road and Royal Palm Beach Boulevard, in honor of three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle deputies who were killed when they were struck by an SUV on Nov. 21.
West Palm Beach officials also must approve their own proclamation.
The Palm Beach council’s vote followed a pair of letters sent to the town urging the council to approve either a resolution or proclamation.
County Mayor Maria Marino sent a letter on July 9 to Mayor Danielle Moore, Cloud Lake Mayor Russell Nidy, Glen Ridge Mayor Alice McLane and West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James, encouraging them to join the County Commission to adopt a resolution and support the designation of a section of Southern Boulevard as President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.
Moore then on Aug. 6 received another letter from Republican state Rep. Chuck Brannan requesting a resolution or proclamation to support the honorary name change of Southern Boulevard next to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club.
Brannan sponsored HB 987, which was approved by Florida lawmakers during this year’s legislative sessions and renamed 20 roads, highways or bridges in honor or memory of someone. Among the roads granted an honorary name was Southern Boulevard which, from Kirk Road to South Ocean Boulevard, will be known as President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.
The stretch of road, which runs between Palm Beach International Airport and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, is frequently traveled by the president when he visits Palm Beach.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law June 13, and the law took effect July 1.
During the council’s discussion, Moore asked Blouin if there was any reason why the council wouldn’t vote to approve drafting a resolution in support of the designation, given state lawmakers’ approval and the county’s support.
No, he replied.
To vote against it would be “more of an emotional decision based upon some political bias,” Blouin said, adding that he has directed his staff not to take politics into consideration in making decisions.
The Town Council is a nonpartisan board.
Not approving the resolution “would create some sort of unnecessary controversy,” Blouin said. And, he said, it is common for current and past presidents to have roads named after them, he said.
Trump joins other past presidents after whom roads have been named in Palm Beach County: Old Dixie Highway through Riviera Beach in 2015 became President Barack Obama Highway, and George Bush Boulevard — named for President George H. W. Bush — stretches between State Road A1A and North Swinton Avenue in Delray Beach.
Trump does have strong ties to Palm Beach and the county, Blouin said. In addition to Mar-a-Lago, Trump owns Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter and Trump International Golf Club in suburban West Palm Beach.
Trump in 2019 declared Palm Beach to be his permanent residence, officially making the move from New York, where he was born and raised.
Alexis Solerno, an aide for Republican state Rep. Meg Weinberger of Palm Beach Gardens, said Palm Beach played a major role in Trump’s journey to the White House, and he has spent decades here investing in the local economy. It would be “a lasting tribute” to his connection to Palm Beach, she said.
Council Member Ted Cooney said that the House bill outlines a marker to be placed at each end of a designated roadway. Because the east end of President Donald J. Trump Boulevard will be in Palm Beach next to Mar-a-Lago, Cooney asked if that marker would need to come to the town’s Landmarks Preservation Commission for review.
Public Works Director Paul Brazil said he will ask FDOT about its plans for that marker.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach moves toward official support for President Donald J. Trump Boulevard
Reporting by Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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