Petition started to change name of Scranton highway
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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Many are familiar with the Scranton roads named after President Joe Biden, but one local has made it a goal to never take Biden Street again.
A petition has been created to rename the roads. The online petition has thousands of signatures to return the Biden Expressway and Biden Street to their original names.
28/22 News Reporter Emily Allegrucci spoke with a Lackawanna County Commissioner on why the streets were named after the president and to locals about how they feel.
It’s been nearly three years since President Biden’s last name replaced two highly traveled roads in Scranton and recently, some locals are looking for that to change.
“With all due respect Mr. President, much love, here as a native I’d like it to be what we know,” said Scranton resident Peter Lyckowski.
An online petition was started about a month ago to return the roads to their original names, already receiving almost 17,000 signatures.
The recent renaming of the Central Scranton Expressway and Spruce Street to Biden Expressway and Biden Street is not just a change in nomenclature; it undermines the identity of our community.
Eric Skurka
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Democratic Lackawanna County Commissioner, Bill Gaughan, was the President of City Council when the signs were changed, and says it was supported by the council and the community.
“I think people generally understand that when you have someone who’s from your hometown who becomes the most powerful person in the country, in the world, as the president of the United States, that it’s something you want to highlight,” Commissioner Gaughan explained.
He says it was a way to honor the president who never forgets where he came from.
“He has done such a great job in all of his years of public service number one and number two he never forgot where he came from. Every speech that he gives almost he mentions the city of Scranton. He’s proud of where he came from and we’re very proud of him,” Commissioner Gaughan continued.
But some locals, like Lyckowski, who support what the petition stands for says he doesn’t believe President Biden has done enough for Scranton to have our roads named after him.
“I don’t know of him much representing Scranton outside of his presidency, and the original names are part of our heritage,” Lyckowski said.
The petition also states that the Electric City is about much more than politics.
Scranton has always been more than just a hometown for politicians. It is a place where hardworking individuals build their lives, where families grow, and communities thrive. We are proud of our roots and we do not want them overshadowed by political affiliations.
Eric Skurka
But, those who spearheaded Biden Street and Expressway believe the entire petition is about politics with the presidential election just months away.
“We had public hearings and public meetings, where were all these people then? This is years later. It’s because of the election. It’s an election tactic and it’s not gonna work in Scranton,” said Commissioner Gaughan.
Commissioner Gaughan says no matter how many sign the petition, the roads will not be renamed.
Allegrucci did reach out to the man who started the petition for an interview and did not hear back.
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