In Albany, the state capital, there’s a tale of two bridges

Mario M. Cuomo electrified Democrats at the presidential nominating convention in 1984 with his “tale of two cities” speech. In Albany, the state capital, there’s a tale of two bridges.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014 renamed the Tappan Zee Bridge — which connects Westchester and Rockland counties — for his father, calling it the “Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.”

But someone recently discovered that the initial “M” was missing from many of the signs. The current Governor Cuomo will now spend tens of thousands of dollars to replace the signs.

Mixed into this is an announcement by Cuomo of a statewide survey for a new license plate design. There are five designs, including one that depicts the “Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.” Critics charge that the governor is skewing the poll so that the bridge design wins.

So will people start calling it the “Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge” even if all the faulty signs are changed? Nah, it’s still known as the Tappan Zee.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 775)