State senator’s name would grace street, but it’s illegal

Published 10:30 am Tuesday, May 3, 2016

ST. PAUL — A bill for public construction projects would rename a street after a Democratic state senator as she exits the Legislature — an honor that breaks state law.

It’s one line in a $1.5 billion public works bill released Monday. The Legislature would provide $3 million to rebuild a street on Blaine’s National Sports Center complex, renaming it Alice Johnson Avenue.

Johnson has served the Blaine area in the Senate since 2012 but will retire at the end of the year. She previously represented the region for a decade in the House.

Email newsletter signup

Sen. LeRoy Stumpf said he and his colleagues wanted to honor Johnson as she retires. Johnson said she was unaware of the addition.

State law bans naming streets after living people. Republicans also said it reeks of political vanity.