Dear Mayor Foy and Chapel Hill Town Council,

This road name change is truly not as simple as changing street signs, mailing address', letterhead, drivers licenses and phone book listings.  Airport road is a hallmark of Chapel Hill and deserves more respect than it is being given.  There is a history with the Horace Williams Airport.  It was built for a very specific reason.  It was donated for a very good purpose.  

I have lived in Chapel Hill my entire life.  I attended kindergarten - Undergrad at UNC here.  My school bus dropped kids off every day at Legion Road and Martin Luther King Street.  I am very well aware of where this street is located and learned the significance of its name while in the wonderful Chapel Hill-Carrboro city school system. 

I have no problem with a memorial for Dr. King.  There were many good suggestions made at last night's meeting regarding other options.  Maybe something a bit more educational than a road.  How about something that promotes unity and higher education a little more than a road can do.  Believe me, if you do change the name, the initial stir will gain publicity.  But that effect will quickly dull.  The hyperbole regarding this topic will disappear.  Then we will all simply drive down a road that has had a name change. 

Please put more thought and creativity into a memorial for a man that almost all seem to respect regardless of age, race, sex, religion or other affiliations.

CLH