Thursday, March 20, 2008

is marilyn praisner the new ronald reagan?

WHAT'S UP THE PIKE: Pedestrian hit on University Boulevard; Park and Planning wants to talk aesthetics; College acceptance made easy at Springbrook High.

I apologize for any offense caused by this post. Please check out this apology and this interview with Don Praisner, Marilyn's widower.

County Executive Ike Leggett's eagerly finding as many things as possible to name after Marilyn Praisner, who passed away seven weeks ago. This week, he and Council President Mike Knapp decided to rename the County's Exceptional Service Award, given to government employees who show "exemplary support of County program," for the four-term councilmember. The new "Marilyn J. Praisner Exceptional Service Award" will join the Marilyn J. Praisner Library and Marilyn J. Praisner Recreation Center, which were re-named barely two weeks after her passing.

Which makes me wonder: will Praisner become the new Ronald Reagan, who became the namesake of everything from high schools to aircraft carriers both before and after his death in 2004? The County Executive wants to preserve her legacy - he even wants to see her widowed husband take her place on the Council - but could MoCo become Praisner'd out?

Just a thought. I'll see you back in East County next week!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Marilyn Praisner did a lot for the East County over a span of many years. She was elected and reelected by large mandate, and was highly respected for her intellect, thorough knowledge of issues, judgement, and many other qualities. Without her accomplishments, there likely would be no community center, library, etc. in the East County - there would be Astroturf on the football field at Whitman HS and other things that do us no good here.

I think that perpetuating Marilyn's legacy in this way is a very tasteful thing to do.