The city council is considering four street renamings to honor former Passaic County freeholder Walter Porter, ex-councilman Thomas Rooney, slain youth Nazerah Bugg, coach Tyrone Collins, and the local Dominican community.
Walter W. Porter Jr. Way
Council members want to rename East 25th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue to also be known as Walter W. Porter Jr. Way.
Porter died in 2013. A longtime Passaic County freeholder he was also a decorated solider. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II taking part in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart.
Porter also worked as captain of detectives at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Another military man being honored is longtime councilman Thomas Rooney.
Thomas Rooney Way
The council wants to rename Grove Street between Main Street and Getty Avenue to Thomas Rooney Way.
Rooney served in the U.S. Navy in 1945-46. He also briefly served as the city’s mayor in 1973-74 before becoming the councilman for the 6th Ward from 1980-2008.
The former councilman continues to live in South Paterson. He currently serves as a member of the Great Falls National Historical Park Advisory Commission.
Nazerah Bugg and Tyrone Collins Way
The council is also looking to honor 14-year-old Nazerah Bugg whose life was cut short by a stray bullet in 2014 by designating Presidential Boulevard between Temple and Arch Streets to be also known as Nazerah Bugg and Tyrone Collins Way.
Bugg will be sharing the street sign with basketball coach Tyrone Collins. Collins drowned in a swimming pool at the age of 46, according to the resolution before the council.
Collins already has a basketball court and park named after him in the Riverview section of the city.
Dominican Republic Way
The council is also considering renaming a portion of Park Avenue between Straight and Summer Streets Dominican Republic Way in tribute to the city’s largest Latino community. This renaming sparked controversy last week as two councilmen – Alex Mendez and Luis Velez – battled over who should receive credit for the renaming.
Council members will consider all four street naming resolutions at their regular meeting on Tuesday night.
