Plan To Name The Ventura (134) Freeway After Obama To Get Assembly Vote

LOS ANGELES, CA — A resolution to name a segment of the Ventura (134) Freeway near Occidental College after Barack Obama, who attended the Eagle Rock school for two years, has moved another step forward, a state senator said Tuesday.

The Assembly Transportation Committee voted 11-3 on Monday to rename the stretch of the Ventura Freeway between the Glendale (2) and Foothill (210) freeways the President Barack H. Obama Freeway, according to Sen. Anthony J. Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge.

The legislation, which next goes before the full Assembly, has already passed the state Senate.

"I am excited to see my colleagues in the Assembly support this effort to recognize and respect President Obama's leadership, legacy and direct connection to Southern California. His years as a District 25 resident played a major role in determining his successful future," said Portantino, who represented Eagle Rock as an assemblyman.

Obama attended Occidental College from 1979 to 1981 and lived in Pasadena during his sophomore year, where he traveled the Ventura Freeway from his apartment to the campus.

Just-seated Rep. Jimmy Gomez was a principal co-author of the resolution. His former Assembly district includes Eagle Rock.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted in June to rename a 3 1/2- mile stretch of Rodeo Road through southwest Los Angeles as Obama Boulevard in honor of the 44th president.

City News Service; Photo: U.S. President Barack Obama waves to reporters after returning to the White House on board Marine One Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News/Getty Images)