Establishes a temporary state commission to rename any projects, infrastructure, facilities or sites within the state which are named after or include any reference to Robert Moses.
This bill would create a temporary state commission, administered through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, to identify and recommend new names for state projects, infrastructure, facilities, and sites that are named after or otherwise reference Robert Moses. The bill expressly includes, but is not limited to, statues, schools, parks, playgrounds, roadways, and beaches. The commission would be composed of seven members appointed by the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly, with members drawn from local officials, civic leaders, or park officials.
The commission would have authority to hold public or private hearings, conduct studies and consultations, and request assistance and data from state and local agencies. Within six months after all members are appointed, it must submit naming recommendations to the parks commissioner and legislative leaders. Once recommendations are received and approved, the commissioner must take the steps necessary to carry out the renaming, including coordinating with other affected agencies or subdivisions. The commission is temporary and the bill would expire once all covered Robert Moses references have been renamed.
The bill would not directly amend a substantive code section, but it would create a new temporary administrative process affecting state and local naming decisions for public assets associated with Robert Moses. It would require cooperation from state agencies and political subdivisions, and could lead to changes in official names, signage, records, maps, and related references for parks, roadways, beaches, and other facilities. The act would repeal itself after the renaming process is complete, and it also directs notice to the legislative bill drafting commission so the official law database can be updated.
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be motivated by a desire to reassess commemorations of Robert Moses and to remove his name from public assets. The overall tone of the proposal is administrative and corrective rather than punitive, with an emphasis on a structured review and renaming process.
The main potential point of contention is the decision to remove Robert Moses’s name from public projects and facilities, which may be viewed by supporters as an appropriate response to his controversial legacy and by opponents as an unnecessary erasure of historical recognition. Another likely issue is the scope of the commission’s authority, including its ability to review a broad range of sites and to rely on state and local cooperation. Because no debate transcript is available, specific objections or supporters cannot be identified, but the bill’s subject matter suggests possible disagreement over historical commemoration, local control, and the costs or administrative burden of renaming.