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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Editorial: N.M. 344 Still Needs New Name

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    Naming a major road is not an easy task, especially when it's in Edgewood.
    The Edgewood Town Council voted to rescind the renaming of N.M. 344 and Edgewood 7 to Keaty Boulevard. A previous council had decided last June to rename the road in honor of Edgewood's first mayor, Larry Keaty.
    Before the council voted to rescind the renaming, John Bassett pointed out that Edgewood had a nearly 100-year history before the town was incorporated and that many families— his included— had a longer history with the area than Keaty.
    It was pointed out by Councilor Brad Hill— whose family also has a long history in Edgewood— that the issue was becoming too political.
    Both men have valid points. Naming a road, or any other landmark, after a person is guaranteed to bring out old animosities. Some people think the state designation of N.M. 344 is fine and something everyone has grown accustomed to. But at this juncture, with Edgewood expecting more growth, the town is trying to come up with an identity.
    Renaming N.M. 344 is a good idea. It tells people traveling down Interstate 40 that Edgewood is more than a wide spot in the freeway. A new name goes toward identifying the town.
    Renaming N.M. 344 after Keaty perhaps wasn't a great idea, and the council and the town should not let the matter drop. What is needed is a name with less potential for political infighting and that reflects Edgewood— to the extent those two things are different. There is already a Venus Road and a Barton Road in the area, but there isn't a South Mountain Boulevard, or an Edgewood Boulevard.
    Or maybe the town could try something even simpler— Main Street.