Should a street be named after Notorious B.I.G.?
LeRoy McCarthy’s quest to have a corner in Brooklyn named after legendary emcee Notorious B.I.G. has hit a bit of a stumbling block.
The council members who have the power to grant or deny McCarthy’s request have several issues with naming a street after the slain rapper.
After reviewing Notorious B.I.G.’s history, CB2 committee member Lucy Koteen read what she learned to the full board Tuesday night.
“He started selling drugs at 12, he was a school dropout at 17, he was arrested for drugs and weapons charge, he was arrested for parole violations, he was arrested in North Carolina for crack cocaine, in 1996 he was again arrested for assault, he had a violent death and physically the man is not exactly a role model for youth,” she said. “I don’t see how this guy was a role model and frankly it offends me.” Kenn Lowy, board member and owner of the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, said he did not appreciate that the rapper, whose birth name was Christopher Wallace, referred to women with derogatory names in his music.
Disapproval isn’t the only thing that’s standing in the way of officials co-naming the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street “Christopher Wallace Way.”
Councilwoman and candidate for public advocate Letitia James has yet to issue a letter of support. Without it, the proposal cannot go forward.
Do we not honor folks who have incredibly issue-laced pasts? (We did just recognize Columbus Day.)
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