Renaming The Southern State: One Step Closer To Reality

The New York Assembly passed a bill this week to rename a portion of the Southern State Parkway after late NYPD Det. Steven McDonald. The Senate passed the bill earlier this month, which means it is now being sent to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo to either be signed or vetoed.

McDonald was on duty on when he was shot in the spine by a 15-year-old in 1986, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. But McDonald gained the admiration of the country when he forgave the young man who shot him. He then spent the rest of his life traveling the world spreading a message of kindness and perseverance.

He died in January at the age of 59, following a heart attack.

In the months since his death, many have expressed their admiration for McDonald. But Long Island's delegation in the state Senate and Assembly want to make sure that McDonald receives the remembrance that he deserves.

The bill would rename the Southern State from the Belt Parkway/Cross Island Parkway interchange in the west to the Meadowbrook Parkway to the Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Highway.

"I am proud to honor the life and service of Det. Steven McDonald by renaming a local stretch of highway in his honor," said Assemblyman Brian Curran, who sponsored the Assembly bill. "This man put his life on the line every day to protect others and was severely injured in the line of duty. Ultimately, his injuries led to his passing. Before he passed away, he became a motivational speaker and a model of forgiveness – one we should all take after. This is a small token of our appreciation to him and his family, his wife Patti-Ann and son Conor."

McDonald's wife and son were honored by Curran on the floor of the Assembly earlier this month, on the day the Senate voted on its version of the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Sen. Todd Kaminsky co-sponsored the Senate bill.

"The legacy of Steven McDonald reminds us of the sacrifices police make every day on our behalf," Kaminsky said after the Senate passed the bill. "His legacy also reminds us of the enduring human spirit, of the courage to live life to its fullest, and the possibilities of love and forgiveness. With respect to renaming the Southern State, I think it is wonderful that future generations will be able to learn of Detective McDonald’s heroics and it will help enable his spirit and message to live on."

The bill now moves to Gov. Cuomo's desk, where he will decide whether to sign it or veto it. The timetable for passage is uncertain, as it's up to the governor when he signs the bill.

Photo: Assemblyman Brian Curran's Office