Request to rename Dock Street for M.L. King divides council

By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Members of city council are split over a request from the Shenango Valley Ministerial Association that Dock Street be renamed Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The association is targeting Dock Street because it also runs through Farrell, Wheatland and Hermitage, becoming Broadway Avenue in those municipalities. All four have been asked to make the change.
"I think it's a great idea. I think it's long overdue," said Councilman Ray Fabian when the issue came up for discussion Thursday at Sharon City Council.
"I would have to vote no," said Councilwoman Chris Outrakis, pointing out that making the change would require businesses to change their addresses, stationery and various legal documents.
Earlier efforts
Sharon looked at changing Dock Street to Victor Posner Boulevard a number of years ago but didn't because it would have been costly to the business people affected, she said.
Council President Fred Hoffman said such a change would require the joint cooperation of all four municipalities. He said he will try to arrange a meeting of officials from all four to discuss the issue.
He was noncommittal about the suggestion but pointed out that council couldn't win residents' support recently in its effort to rename Trumbull Avenue for Rebecca Koborie, a Sharon native who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
Residents of Trumbull opposed the change although Koborie's parents still live there.
The Koborie family asked council to back away from its plan because of that opposition.
Councilmen Lou Rotunno and George Gulla were absent from Thursday's meeting.
A city resident, Albert LaFon of Logan Avenue, urged council to turn down the request based on an allegation in a book he read which alleges that King secured his doctorate through plagiarism.
Farrell City Council members indicated earlier this month that changing their portion of Broadway to Martin Luther King Boulevard in honor of the slain civil rights leader would likely get a favorable vote.
Hermitage and Wheatland officials haven't publicly discussed the issue.
gwin@vindy.com