What's in a name?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Stunning Revelation": The Gallo request to step down is but one side of this fable. I have never heard Gallo's side to see if there is any truth this story at all. 

However, the naming of streets, parks, alleys, walkways, whatever... should never be made for anyone that is alive. Furthermore, they should be dead at least 5 years before any naming is done. You never know how many skeletons are in their closets

Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 2 September 2014 08:17
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Let us consider what we know. In the 2006 election, Mr. Gallo was unsuccessful. Councillor Wilson was closest vote to Mr. Gallo.

I was in the habit over the years, before e-mail, calling candidates the night before the election and wishing them well.

After the election, I called those who were not successful, congratulated them on their effort, and encouraged them not to give up. Try again.

It's no more than I did. I was not elected until my third try. My first run was in 1963. I was first elected in 1967.

Mr Gallo called me as I was about to call him to congratulate him on an excellent vote for the first time out.

He said. "Well, I guess there's no point in asking you then."

I said . "What was it? "  I asked.

Then he asked me to step aside and let him have my seat.

 I  was stunned and rendered speechless.

I'm not sure when I made the conversation public. I had no reason to keep it confidential. I was seriously offended. Councillor Wilson was runner-up with the closest vote to Mr. Gallo.

As far as we know, he did not make the same request of Councillor Wilson.

No apology was ever proffered. Nor was that a last time.

It was a telephone conversation.

Now to the question of naming streets. For as long as I have lived in Aurora and before, streets have been named after people involved in town development and growth.

The original village was Machell's Corners. Machell had a business at the intersection.

Charles Doane, village postmaster, chose the name Aurora when the Municipality was incorporated.

Staff and developers named the streets.

Not Council. My name was attached to a small lane long after Mayors and Councillors who came later.

I had advised staff early if a street was to be named for me, it should be a big broad avenue and bear my name.

Eventually it was attached to a pretty little street.

My grandchildren are impressed.

I was not a Councillor when it happened.

In my neighbourhood, every street is named for a town official at the time of development.

Who remembers?

Why does it matter?

New streets have to be named.

Who gets their knickers in a twist about someone else's name going on a street?

What is that about?