Hello, there! As you know, The Emperor's Bridge Campaign, the San Francisco-based nonprofit that advances the legacy of Emperor Norton, proposes that the California state legislature simply _add_ "Emperor Norton Bridge" as a name for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge _system_ — leaving in place all existing names for the system and its constituent parts ("spans," tunnel, pedestrian/bike path, etc.). We're convinced that this is the most politically and financially _doable_ way to — finally! — get the Emperor's name on his bridge. And we think there's no better time to do this than 2018 — the year of the 200th anniversary of the Emperor's birth on 4 February 1818. :: :: :: The "multiple name" approach the Campaign proposes — not RE-naming the Bay Bridge system but CO-naming it — has 50-plus years of state precedent behind it. In the early 1960s, the state legislature began its ongoing practice of passing joint resolutions to add names to bridge structures that already had names. The state now has some 30 bridges for which it recognizes two or more names for the same bridge structure. So, at the level of process, there's nothing particularly novel about what the Campaign is asking the state legislature to do. The state has been doing this for a long time. And: With all existing names for the Bay Bridge and its parts remaining in place, an "Emperor Norton Bridge" naming could be memorialized with as few as two prominent highway signs — one on either end of the bridge. Much easier to fund privately (as required) than a wholesale renaming and (thus) a total overhaul of the highway signage program for the bridge! Also worth noting: Although the state in recent years has authorized names for both the western "span" and the pedestrian / bike path of the complex Bay Bridge system... The state continues to _separately_ recognize "San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge" as the name of the system as a whole. Put another way: The "element names" of the western "span" and the pedestrian / bike path stand on their own. But, the Bay Bridge _system_ has only one (unofficial) name: "San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge." So, in adding "Emperor Norton Bridge" as a name for the system, the state legislature would be adding only a second name — not a third or a fourth. :: :: :: With all of this as preamble... Since the Bay Bridge is owned by the State of California, it is the state legislature that has the authority to legislate "Emperor Norton Bridge" as a "co-name" for the bridge. Legislative directors and aides for members of San Francisco's state delegation — Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymembers David Chiu and Phil Ting, all of whose support would be key to advancing an "Emperor Norton Bridge" resolution in Sacramento — have indicated to The Emperor's Bridge Campign that these lawmakers may be receptive to doing just that! BUT... What these legislative staffers _also_ have told the Campaign is that Messrs. Wiener, Chui and Ting would like to see signs of public support for an "Emperor Norton Bridge" naming from San Francisco's _local_ elected officials before moving forward on the issue themselves. SO... IF YOU ARE A SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT, NOW IS YOUR MOMENT to tell your Supervisor that you would like her or him to publicly endorse the Campaign's "Emperor Norton Bridge" proposal. We are building a list of endorsers and would like to add to this list as many members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as possible! To find contact info for your Supervisor and her/his legislative staffers, click on her/his name or photo on the roster at: http://sfbos.org/roster-members :: :: :: Let your Supervisor know that the organization advancing the naming proposal — The Emperor's Bridge Campaign — also has been the engine of the current season of celebration of Emperor Norton's bicentennial. Let your Supervisor know that — in connection with this bicentennial celebration... City Hall, City agencies and City elected officials _already_ have granted the Campaign's requests to light City Hall and Coit Tower in gold for Emperor's 200th birthday, and to declare February 2018 to be Emperor Norton Month in the City and County of San Francisco. More information about the Campaign's EMPEROR NORTON AT 200 series and our institutional partners in producing the series is at: http://www.EmperorNortonat200.org For all the messages The Emperor's Bridge Campaign is using — and _not_ using — to advance its "Emperor Norton Bridge" effort, please see our sample letter and additional info at: http://www.EmperorsBridge.org/bridge/letter/ Elected officials and others wishing to publicly endorse the Campaign's "Emperor Norton Bridge" effort — or who would like more information in view of an endorsement — should contact The Emperor's Bridge Campaign via: http://www.EmperorsBridge.org/contact/ Much more information about the "Emperor Norton Bridge" naming project is at: http://www.EmperorNortonBridge.org Emperor Norton's bicentennial is a fabulous opportunity to make a present of this long-overdue bridge-naming honor. Let's use it! Cheers, JOHN LUMEA The Emperor's Bridge Campaign http://www.EmperorsBridge.org