Nov 21, 2008 7:46 pm US/Eastern
Opa-Locka Wants To Create Barack Obama Avenue
Commissioners Want To Rename Perviz Avenue
Final Vote Expected In December
OPA-LOCKA (CBS4) ―
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Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with former Republican presidential candidate Arizona Senator John McCain at Obama's transition offices in Chicago
Saul Loeb/Getty Images
President-elect Barack Obama will soon be living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue but it's a South Florida avenue that will soon bear his name.
City commissioners in Opa-locka want to rename Perviz Avenue after the nation's first black president. They want to be the first city in the state of Florida to name a street after the 44th president of the United States.
"Our attempt is to leave a piece of history for the next generation to embrace," said Opa-Locka commissioner Dorothy Johnson.
The commission voted on the name change consideration Nov 12th and will hold a final vote in December. If it passes, the street will be dedicated in February in observance of President's Day.
Perviz Avenue runs north-south from Oriental Boulevard (NW 151st Street), to Ali Baba Avenue. It runs parallel to City Hall, which is preserved as a historic site and used by elected officials for political business.
It's also one of the city's original streets. The city's public library, the administrative municipal complex and Opa-locka United Methodist Church are all located on it as well.
Most of the people
CBS4 spoke with, seemed to be completely behind the possible name change.
"He should have the name for doing all of this for us and we are happy to have him for as a president for that too," said little Sasha Larocca.
"That'll be great, first black President. History will be made in Opa-Locka again," said Mo Mason.
The positive feeling amongst the community for President-elect Obama is what Commissioner Johnson hope will be the lasting memory of this gesture.
"It will give our children hope. It is a reflection of when you see children from this community they will know that with a good education, determination and focus they can be everything they want to be," Johnson said.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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