Rockville Centre Letters to the Editor

Don’t rename field for politician

To the Editor:

Recent events have sparked a discussion about renaming the Dean Skelos Athletic Complex. Before this debate is in full swing, I want to make a few points worth considering.

I do not believe that any fields, complexes, bridges, sports arenas, skyscrapers, etc., should be named after politicians. It is a politician’s job to secure funding, fight for communities and improve the structure of a locality. They should not be rewarded or idolized for doing that — it is their job! I know of other local politicians who modestly and respectfully declined having their names on Skelos Field before the honor was bestowed on Dean Skelos.

Let us instead consider real local heroes. Volunteers from area civic organizations or religious communities, coaches from our sports teams or just ordinary citizens who have gone the extra mile are the pool of individuals we should be choosing from. Let us consider people who have made a difference not because it was their job, but because they voluntarily made an industrious effort in a human endeavor.

There has been mention of renaming the complex after John Darcy, who loved sports and was taken too young. He sounds like a good nomination, but let us also consider our young local veterans who were also taken too young. I suspect we may have too many names to debate, and aren’t we lucky to live in a community where we have so many great people making a difference?

Maybe we will decide to go with a classic name like the Rockville Sports Complex or Peninsula Sports Complex. No matter the resolution, I just ask that two things occur in the selection process: No more politicians’ names, and please let the voices of the citizenry be heard.

Jacqueline Agresta

Rockville Centre