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An Ordinance authorizing the County of Allegheny in conjunction with the Department of Public Works and the Law Department to rename the Squaw Run Bridges Nos. 1-8 located within Fox Chapel Borough and O’Hara Township, Allegheny County.
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Whereas, the County currently owns and maintains the Squaw Run Bridges Nos. 1-8; and
Whereas, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), a federal body created in 1890 and established in its present form by Public Law in 1947, is tasked with maintaining uniform geographic name usage throughout the United States; and
Whereas, the BGN has found that the word, “squaw,” is a derogatory term and, in support thereof, announced in 2022 that it would eliminate the word “squaw” within the names of all federal roads, streams, and parks across the United States. In doing so, the name of the stream that runs under the Squaw Run Bridges Nos. 1-8 was changed from Squaw Run to Sycamore Run; and
Whereas, the renaming of the Squaw Run Bridges Nos. 1-8 to the Sycamore Run Bridges Nos. 1-8 would eliminate the derogatory word “squaw” from the names of these bridges and match the name of the stream running beneath them; and
Whereas, such renaming constitutes a valid public purpose serving the interests of the residents of the County.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of the Preamble.
The provisions set forth in the preamble to this Ordinance are incorporated by reference as set forth in their entirety herein.
SECTION 2. Authorization to Rename Bridges and Enroll Same in the Records of Allegheny County.
County Council authorizes the renaming of the County’s Squaw Run Bridges Nos. 1-8 to the Sycamore Run Bridges Nos 1-8. The Department of Public Works and all other departments within County government are directed to enroll the renamed bridges as County bridges within their official records.
SECTION 3. Severability.
If any provision of this Ordinance shall be de...
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