“Tappan Zee symbolizes the history and heritage of the area,” said Assemblymember Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/ Mt. Pleasant) as he announced that he has introduced legislation to rename the twin bridges connecting Westchester and Rockland counties.
Assemblymember Abinanti has introduced legislation that would restore “Tappan Zee” to the twin bridges and rename the bridges “The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge.” The bill would also name the welcome center at the Westchester landing of the bridge “The Governor Malcom Wilson Welcome Center.”
Since 2017, when Governor Andrew M. Cuomo prevailed upon the Legislature to name the bridges after Governor Mario Cuomo, many local residents have voiced opposition to eliminating the reference to Tappan Zee in the bridge’s name. Tappan is the name of a Native American sub-tribe of the Delaware/Lenni Lenape who occupied the area and Zee is Dutch for sea referring to the early Dutch settlers.
When former Governor Mario Cuomo dedicated the former bridge to the honor of former Governor Malcolm Wilson, he kept the important local reference and re-named the bridge the “Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge.”
“It’s time that we all came together and reached a compromise,” said Assemblymember Abinanti. “Let’s stop the war over the name, it’s time to heal.”
