Queens Street to be Named After Sean Bell

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

The City Council has voted to name a street in Queens, after Sean Bell, who was killed in 2006 after NYPD officers fired 50 shots at his car. The officers who were charged in the case were acquitted, but the incident prompted several reforms in police procedures. Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron voted FOR the bill.

BARRON: As we vote for Sean Bell Way, we have to send a message to this city that this should never ever happen again.

REPORTER: Barron also saluted Bell's mother and fiance who were there for the vote.

Six members voted against renaming 3-blocks of Liverpool Street after Bell. Opponents included Councilman Peter Vallone Junior, who says both police and Bell, used poor judgement the night he was killed.

In all, the council voted to rename 70 streets, including honors for probationary Firefighter Christian Regenhard who died on 9-11, and Ghanwatti Boodram, a 40 year old mother of three killed in a ConEd gas explosion in Queens in April.

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