S4558A

The New York State Senate passed legislation Tuesday to rename the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge, restoring the historic name to the Hudson River crossing that has been a source of constituent frustration since its 2017 renaming. The bill, sponsored by Sen. James Skoufis and cosponsored by Sen. Rob Weber, passed on a 51-11 roll call vote. The compromise measure represents a middle ground after the original 2017 renaming—which Skoufis said was "shoved into" an omnibus bill with no public input—sparked sustained backlash in the Hudson Valley region. "It will always be the Tappan Zee to me," Skoufis said, reflecting constituent sentiment. Weber noted the renaming remains one of the most discussed topics in Rockland County, comparing the frustration to renaming a Westchester park after a controversial figure. The bridge, which opened in 1955 as the Tappan Zee, was renamed in 1994 to honor former Governor Malcolm Wilson while retaining the Tappan Zee name. Eleven senators voted against the measure. The bill now heads to the Assembly for consideration.