Biggie

Biggie has always been regarded as one of Brooklyn’s “heroes,” even before his passing. A proposal was recently made to have his old stomping grounds at the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street renamed to “Christopher Wallace Way,” but not everyone is on board. In fact, one person is downright opposed, citing the Notorious One’s weight and criminal past as reasons why.

“He started selling drugs at 12, he was a school dropout at 17, he was arrested for drugs and weapons charge, he was arrested for parole violations, he was arrested in North Carolina for crack cocaine, in 1996 he was again arrested for assault, he had a violent death and physically the man is not exactly a role model for youth,” CB2 board member Lucy Koteen said, also adding that his weight was an issue. “I don’t see how this guy was a role model and frankly it offends me.”

Ken Lowy, board member and owner of the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, said he did not appreciate that B.I.G. referred to women with “derogatory names” in his music.

However, 45-year-old board member LeRoy McCarthy is holding it down. McCarthy said after the meeting that “board members should not hold Wallace’s physical appearance nor how he died against him.” He presented the board with letters of support from two local churches, a mosque, a nearby block association, several local businesses and more than 1,000 comments from people all over the world who signed an online petition.

Hopefully they’ll come to an agreement soon!

Marisa Mendez

Source: HHW