Stop Naming Public Infrastructure After Politicians
The Donald J. Trump International Airport mandate costs taxpayers millions. Leaders from all parties waste public money on monuments. We must demand infrastructure maintenance instead.
I oppose naming public infrastructure after living politicians. As in Riviera Beach, the Dixie Highway was renamed the President Barack Obama Highway, and, most recently, PBI (Palm Beach International Airport) was renamed DJT (President Donald J. Trump International Airport). This, like all renamings, is a waste of taxpayer money for nothing more than political vanity. It is estimated to cost taxpayers approximately $5.5 million ($2.75 million from the state, with the remainder paid locally).
The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, as the owner and operator of the airport, was forced to make this move after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that sailed through the Florida legislature earlier this year. Not long ago, these same Republicans were voicing outrage over far-left liberals demanding the renaming of various roads and institutions. The state legislature stripped local authority over airport naming and mandated the Trump renaming by law; the county board didn’t choose the name — it was preempted from choosing anything. The commissioners’ only vote was on a licensing agreement to comply with the state mandate, and they did it narrowly, 4-3, over local objection.
I posit that the government should only manage basic functions. It should not name infrastructure after its own leaders. Minimal state interference requires leaving established names alone. We do not owe politicians permanent geographical locations. They are public employees. We employ them.
Politicians from all parties do this repeatedly at the taxpayers’ expense. Here are just a few examples:
Washington National Airport was renamed Ronald Reagan Airport. Not to be outdone, Florida renamed the turnpike for Ronald Reagan.
Lawmakers renamed the CIA headquarters after George H.W. Bush in 1999.
Politicians renamed the EPA headquarters after Bill Clinton in 2013.
Florida lawmakers also renamed a stretch of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach to President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.
Hialeah city officials renamed a street to President Donald J. Trump Avenue.
Tennessee legislators renamed a section of State Route 386 to the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway
Walton County commissioners renamed Highway 393 North to Charlie Kirk Parkway.
The Hoover Dam was named during Herbert Hoover’s presidency. Political opponents changed the title to Boulder Dam. Harry Truman later restored the Hoover Dam name.
George Bush Blvd in Delray Beach, Florida (though this name change was privately funded).
These changes erase local history. They force citizens to update maps and directories. Just fix the roads. Maintain the airports. Leave the names alone.