The volume of emails and letters – the majority against renaming Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gulf of America Drive, continue to pour into Longboat Key Town Hall.
It all started when on a hot summer night last August.
The green road signs along Longboat Key’s Gulf of Mexico Drive vanished, sparking a furious and complex local controversy.
Florida state crews removed the signs to comply with a new federal and state-level rebranding of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America,” which was ordered by the Trump administration and subsequently adopted in Florida law.
Although the Town of Longboat Key’s official street name remains unchanged for now, the unannounced removal of the signs created a dilemma and has ignited a heated community debate.
Controversy comes to a head
For generations, the 10-mile-long Gulf of Mexico Drive has been the primary artery connecting Longboat Key to the mainland. The road is a part of the island’s identity and history, even though its official state designation is State Road 789. When the FDOT removed the signs, residents and town officials were caught off guard and a storm of dissent brewed.
In a story that has unfolded in local news and town meetings, the controversy has revealed several layers of community concern:
Political overreach
For many residents, the renaming order was an example of unwanted political influence forcing change upon a local community. Longboat Key’s Mayor Ken Schneier noted that very few residents actually wanted the name to change. Critics viewed the state mandate as an imposition of ideology rather than a response to local needs.
Administrative burden and cost
A new name would create significant hassle for Longboat Key’s thousands of residents, particularly the large population of elderly residents. A resident’s open letter detailed the massive administrative headache of changing addresses on Medicare, Social Security, the DMV, insurance, and other crucial documents. Businesses would also need to update costly signage and marketing materials.
Public safety concerns
With the potential for confusion over a new name, residents feared that emergency services could be delayed in urgent situations. For decades, emergency responders have known the main road as Gulf of Mexico Drive, and a change could cause life-threatening confusion say some.
Historical preservation
The name “Gulf of Mexico Drive” has been used since 1957, having been chosen over alternatives like “Longboat Parkway”. Longtime residents saw the name as part of the island’s unique heritage. One resident compared the state’s actions to a “Cultural Revolution” and argued that a temporary political movement should not erase local history.
A local stand for identity
At a September 2025 meeting, town staff reported that the overwhelming majority of resident feedback was against the renaming. With a final decision looming at an October 20 Town Commission meeting, the options are stark:
Change the name to “Gulf of America Drive” to align with state and federal changes. The state offered to pay for new signs.
Maintain the status quo, meaning the local name remains “Gulf of Mexico Drive” while the state continues to refer to it as State Road 789 and does not replace the signs.
Or, rename the road to Longboat Key Drive, which some argue avoids politicizing the situation and puts Longboat first.
Find a compromise, such as using an abbreviation like “GMD” on temporary signs.
As Longboat Key waits for the final decision, residents grapple with core questions about their community, politics, history and identity.
