Public Honors for the Deserving
Desert Observer's pageHave you noticed all the freeways now seem to bear the names of people. Some are named after fallen heroes and others are named after state legislators. Bet you didn't know we're beginning to have a problem here. The big issue is one of supply and demand. There's a huge supply of legislators in the wings waiting for something owned by the taxpayers to bear their name, but there's a shortage of unnamed places and, in particular, a shortage of unnamed freeways. This is serious. How would you like to face the prospect of being termed out of state office and nothing's been done to carve your name onto a piece of public property for all eternity?
There's a solution! Really, it's so simple, I wonder why it's not been used already. We need to start naming the freeway off ramps. Yes, that's right, the Freeway Off Ramps. And when those are all used up - it could take years - there's all those Freeway On Ramps. Way down the road (pun intended), they could also start naming the Freeway Interchanges, the Overpasses, and even the Carpool Lanes. There is no naming crisis - the solution is right before us.
Here's my first candidate for a Freeway Off Ramp name. It's former California Highway Patrol commander and about-to-be-termed-out State Senator Jim Battin. Wouldn't it be great if we could memorialize the Jim Battin name on one of our valley freeway off ramps? What could be more appropriate for a former Highway Patrol Officer? Just think of it - the Jim Batten Exit Ramp. Sorta brings a tear to the eye just thinking of it. Doesn't it?
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
May 18, 2008
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