The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was officially renamed after Hugh Carey today in a dignitary-studded ceremony packed with dozens of the late governor’s family members.
Mayor Bloomberg, former Gov. Mario Cuomo – who served as Carey’s lieutenant governor – former Gov. David Paterson and Lt Gov Bob Duffy all praised him as the consummate public servant.
“The New York that stands today really is a testament to Gov. Carey’s foresight and fortitude,” Bloomberg said of Carey, who is universally credited with saving the city during the fiscal crisis in the 1970s.
“Back then few people would have believed that the city would be as strong and as safe as it is today.”
Paterson – who authorized the name changing as governor – praised Carey as a man of principal and Cuomo said his strength was his willingness to collaborate.
Carey died last year at 92.
The father of 14’s children and grandchildren – and one great grand child – filled the first three rows of the ceremony.
The ceremony included the unveiling of new 30-inch-high black stainless steel lettering that read: “Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.” Red, white and blue vinyl banners with the tunnel’s new name have also been hung to note the name change.
“I heart New York” cookies were given out to guests, a nod to Carey’s role in initiating the successful campaign. And the closing song was “New York, New York,” a personal favorite of the late Democrats.