Relates to designating a portion of the highway system the "Brooklyn Veterans Memorial Highway"

2 Co-sponsors

• Simcha Felder
• Diane J. Savino

Title of bill

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system in Kings county as the "Brooklyn Veterans Memorial Highway"

Purpose

This bill honors the legacy of the many brave men and women from Kings County who have served this country at home and abroad. It also pays respect to the historic United States Military presence in the Borough of Brooklyn which includes both Fort Hamilton and once included the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of this bill adds a new section 344-e to the Highway Law. This new section designates the portion of Interstate 278 in Kings County as the "Brooklyn Veterans Memorial Highway."

Section 2 provides that the Commissioner of the State Department of Transportation shall provide for appropriate signage and maintenance thereof, and that any designation reflected in the signage shall be purely ceremonial so as to avoid confusion and disruption of commerce.

Section 3 states that this act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.

Justification

Fort Hamilton is currently the only active military installation in the City of New York. This area has a rich history. In the American Revolution and the War of 1812, coastal defense in the southwestern corner of Brooklyn proved instrumental to the war efforts against the British Navy. The fort served as the nation's first National Guard training camp and later contributed to the military careers of Generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Abner Doubleday, as well as providing troops to quell the draft riots of 1863. Fort Hamilton currently serves as the headquarters of New York City Recruiting Battalion, the North Atlantic Division of the Army Corps of Engineers, and many Army Reserve and New York Army National Guard Units.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a site of construction for one of Robert Fulton's steamships and not far from a site of construction the nation's first ironclad ship, the Monitor, and the launch site for the Maine. It was central to US efforts in World War 2, having benefitted greatly from the Works Progress Administration, and produced the battleship Missouri, on board which Japan surrendered in addition to the nation's first angle-decked aircraft carrier.

Both Fort Hamilton and The Brooklyn Naval Yards are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic contributions of Brooklyn to American defenses and military power must be acknowledged and welcomed. Brooklyn's veterans, as with veterans elsewhere, are worthy of public recognition and by visitors and residents for the dedication and sacrifices they have made on behalf of all Americans. This highway designation would take a step toward recognizing Brooklyn's service members and their contributions our nation's values.

Prior legislative history

2015: S.4422 - Passed the Senate FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

The cost of installation and maintenance of adequate signage to the New York State Department of Transportation.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.