A major thoroughfare near Plainview might soon pay homage to one of the Long Island’s greatest music icons.
The New York State Senate passed a bill last week to name part of Route 107 in Hicksville, between the Northern State Parkway and Lenox Avenue, as Billy Joel Boulevard.
Local residents expressed pleasure that a street might soon be named after the legendary Hicksville native.
“It is nice that he will get his own street name,” said Hicksville’s Tim Dooley. “Billy Joel is definitely a big part of Long Island and I think it is great that Hicksville will have the honor of having a section of street named after him.”
Senator Jack Martins helped sponsor the bill, saying that Joel’s songs and charitable acts have done an enormous amount of good.
“Billy Joel is a worldwide icon who remains a Long Islander through and through,” Martins said. “I hope the assembly will join the senate in approving this fitting tribute to a man who, even with all this fame and success, never forgot where he came from and continues to help his beloved Long Island and fellow Long Islanders.”
Assemblymen Michael Montesano also helped sponsor the bill, which is currently waiting to be passed by the assembly. He said many in the community had asked that Route 107 be renamed to honor the musical icon.
“Despite his many years of fame, he remains a very grounded and approachable guy, and has done a lot of public service to support his hometown area,” Montesano said. “While this stretch of the state road does not pass by his locally-run motorcycle shop [in Oyster Bay], we chose a strip that would be welcomed by residents in the surrounding area.”
The Piano Man’s currently on tour and will play the final show at Nassau Coliseum on August 4. Among those attending that show is Samantha Mankovitcz.
“I am a huge Billy Joel fan and I plan on going to the concert for the send-off of the coliseum,” said Mankovitcz, a Hicksville resident. “I think it is a wonderful thing that they are honoring him by naming a part of 107 after him.”
