Elected Officials Call to Take Cuomo Name off New York’s Longest Bridge

By Sarah Morgenstern

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo so disgraced his family’s once-honorable name that just three years after the opening of the three-mile Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, New York elected officials are calling to change the name of twin-spanning bridge that was named the “Tappan Zee,” which was named for the Tappan American Indian tribe and the Dutch word for "sea."

In 1994, lawmakers added the name of former Gov. Malcolm Wilson to honor the 20th year after he left office to the bridge that was originally built in 1952. When the bridge was completely rebuilt in 2019, lawmakers renamed the span for former Gov. Mario Cuomo, who served from 1983 to 1994. 

Six months after former Gov. Cuomo’s resignation, Assemblyman Mike Lawler, who represents Rockland County in the 97th District, has introduced legislation to remove the Cuomo name from the bridge, which would take 76 votes in the Assembly and 32 in the Senate: plus the governor's signature.

"We cannot wait any longer,” said Lawler, who told HudsonValleyNews12 that both Democrats and Republicans support the name change. “The Cuomo name must come off this bridge.”

"The fact that [the name Cuomo] remains on that bridge after he resigned in disgrace should really be the No. 1 reason why we should take that name off," Rob Astorino, the former Westchester County executive who is running again for governor in 2023.

If elected, Astorino, whom Rockland County Executive Ed Day supports, vowed to sign the legislation to change the name of the twin-span bridge that connects Rockland and Westchester counties.