Longboat Key resident Barbara C. Woods wrote the following to the Town.
As a full-time and 11-year resident of the Town of Longboat Key, I am writing to express my unequivocal opposition to any proposal to rename Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gulf of America Drive. While Florida HB 575 and HB 549 require changes to state references, these laws do not compel the Town of Longboat Key to change the name of our historic roadway. That decision rests solely with you — and I urge you to reject it. I really cannot overstate the sheer lunacy of forcing thousands of very elderly residents to change their addresses. Renaming the street would be a purely symbolic act that wastes public and private resources and fails to serve any real community need. This lunacy is matched only by the state’s current successful effort to deprive our community of street signs. I feel as if I am a resident of an authoritarian state and am living through China’s Cultural Revolution and Stalin’s Great Purge. This renaming effort does not restore American Greatness –it brings shame and embarrassment to our values, community and country. I am astounded that you would even consider pandering to this impractical, ridiculous, partisan, divisive effort. Do you want that to be your legacy to our community?
1. Protecting Residents from Unnecessary Burden and Chaos
Changing the name of Gulf of Mexico Drive would create needless hardship for thousands of residents, many of whom are elderly. This change would force them to update their addresses with Medicare, Social Security, the IRS, property insurers, the DMV, and countless other institutions. The administrative burden is enormous — not only for residents, but also for local medical and dental offices that would have to update patient records en masse. The likelihood of errors is high, and the consequences could be severe: denied medical claims, missed tax notices, delayed Social Security payments, and other critical disruptions.
2. Risk to Emergency Services and Public Safety
This street name has been in place since 1957. Emergency services are familiar with it. Changing the name risks confusion and delays in urgent situations — a danger that is entirely avoidable.
3. Preserving Our History and Local Authority
The state should not interfere with the Town’s ability to preserve its own history. Gulf of Mexico Drive is part of our identity and heritage. The name of our street should not be tied to the political rebranding of the adjacent body of water.
4. Avoiding Politically Motivated Instability
Political movements are temporary and shift with election cycles. If a future administration restores the name “Gulf of Mexico” to the body of water, would the Town change the street name yet again? Residents deserve a permanent address that is not subject to the whims of partisan politics.
5. No Tangible Benefit — Only Division and Cost
This statute is the product of extreme partisan views and serves no urgent public need. It is divisive, costly, and burdensome — all for the sake of a symbolic gesture that solves no real problem. The Town should not yield to such pressure.
6. Additional Practical and Economic Concerns
• Business disruption – Local businesses would face costly updates to signage, stationery, websites, advertising, and legal documents.
• Municipal expenses – The Town/County/State would bear the cost of replacing street signs, updating maps, GPS databases, and official records — potentially tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
• Impact on property values – Controversy or uncertainty around a street name can temporarily depress property values.
• Navigation errors – GPS systems, delivery services, and visitors may struggle to find addresses during the transition.
7. Governance and Public Trust
• Perception of political overreach – Renaming can be seen as an imposition of ideology, especially when driven by partisan agendas.
• Symbolic vs. substantive change – Renaming is a symbolic gesture that does nothing to address real community needs.
• Lack of public input – A change of this magnitude should only occur after broad community consultation or a referendum.
8. Psychological and Social Impact
• Cognitive load – Residents, especially older ones, must relearn and internalize a new name, which can be confusing and stressful.
• Community division – Renaming debates can polarize neighbors and create lasting resentment.
9. A Practical Alternative
If the state requires removal of “Gulf of Mexico” from official signage, the Town could consider using “GMD” on temporary signs— a widely recognized and accepted shorthand — without changing the official street name.
In conclusion:
For all these reasons, I urge you to stand with the residents of Longboat Key and preserve the name Gulf of Mexico Drive. Do not allow a misguided and temporary political movement to erase our history, disrupt our lives, and compromise our safety.
