SACRAMENTO – Despite opposition from Gov. Jerry Brown, a majority of the California State Legislature Senate gave consent to name the western span of the new San Francisco Bay Bridge in honor of Willie L. Brown, Jr.
Twenty-six State senators voted yes to the bill while seven said no. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 65 (ACR 65) authored by Isadore Hall III (D-Compton), had earlier cruised through the Assembly with a 68-0 vote.
Brown was elected to represent San Francisco as a Member of the California State Assembly from 1965 to 1995.
During his tenure, Brown held a number of high ranking leadership positions. He was elected as Speaker of California State Assembly from 1980 to 1995. Brown was the longest serving Speaker and the first African American Speaker in California history.
“Today’s approval by the California Legislature to name the western span of the Bay Bridge the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Bridge is a fitting and worthy tribute to one of California’s greatest public servants,” Assemblyman Hall said in a written statement.
“I especially want to thank Senators Mark Leno and Leland Yee, along with Assemblymember Phil Ting and Legislators from throughout the Bay Area for their support of this important resolution.”
Gov. Brown had expressed his disapproval of the resolution through the media and said the bridge should continue with the name it has held for 77 years.
Concurrent resolutions of the Legislature do not require the signature of the Governor.
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By Antonio Harvey
OBSERVER Staff Writer