What's happening
This bill renames the Newkirk Avenue subway station on the IRT Nostrand Avenue line to "Newkirk Avenue - Little Haiti station" once sufficient funds are committed.
Why it matters
Recognizes and celebrates the Haitian community. By officially adding "Little Haiti" to the station name, the bill acknowledges the cultural and historical contributions of Haitian-Americans in Brooklyn, promoting inclusivity and visibility for the neighborhood.
Contingent on external funding. The renaming will only proceed if sufficient funds are specifically committed for this purpose, meaning public resources are not automatically diverted—this may encourage community or private fundraising and ensures the change doesn’t strain transit budgets.
Sets a clear implementation timeline and accountability. The bill requires all signs and items to be updated within ten months after funds are secured, and mandates official notification to legislative bodies when the process is complete, ensuring transparency and timely execution.
Temporary legislative action. The law is designed to automatically repeal itself once the renaming is fully implemented, preventing outdated provisions from remaining on the books and maintaining a streamlined legal code.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Rename Subway to Little Haiti
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported and committed to rules
- Print number 8341b
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Print number 8341a
- Amend (t) and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Rename Subway Station Little Haiti
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8341--B
IN SENATE
May 15, 2020
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT in relation to renaming the Newkirk Avenue subway station on the IRT Nostrand Avenue line the "Newkirk Avenue - Little Haiti station"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Upon a determination by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or the New York City Transit Authority that sufficient funds have been committed to it specifically for such purpose, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the public benefit corporation created by section 1263 of the public authorities law, and the New York City Transit Authority, the public benefit corporation created by section 1201 of the public authorities law, shall use such specifically committed funds to rename the Newkirk Avenue subway station on the IRT Nostrand Avenue line of the New York city subway to the Newkirk Avenue - Little Haiti station. The MTA shall ensure that all signs and any other items issued by the MTA are updated to accurately reflect the new name of the station within ten months.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall be deemed repealed after the signs and any other items are accurately updated. The chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or president of the New York City Transit Authority shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the completion of such updates in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15477-03-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act in relation to renaming the Newkirk Avenue subway station on the IRT Nostrand Avenue line the "Newkirk Avenue - Little Haiti station"
Purpose
This bill will rename the current "Newkirk Ave" station on the 2 and 5 line to "Newkirk Avenue -- Little Haiti". The renaming will enhance the experience of the Haitian culture to visitors and other residence.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Clarifies that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) are authorized to determine sufficient funds are available to implement signage changes and directs completion of the station renaming, including any items necessary to implement such renaming, within 10 months of the original chapter taking effect.
Justification
Little Haiti, Flatbush Brooklyn was officially designated by the New York City Council in June 2018. This geographic community has celebrated Haitian culture in multitudinous forms over the years, including Haitian Flag Day parades and celebrations, the street co-naming of a 3-mile stretch of Nostrand Avenue as Toussaint L'Ouverture Boulevard, a 3-mile stretch co-naming Rogers Avenue at Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard, both significant leaders in Haitian history, and the establishment of the Haitian Studies Institute at Brooklyn College. Thus, renaming the Newkirk Ave Station to "Newkirk Avenue -- Little Haiti" will further the cultural experience, tourism, and economic development of all people visiting the Little Haiti Business and Cultural District.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.