Street of Contention: Renaming Brighton Beach Avenue to the Ukrainian Way does not please residents of the area

The Ukrainian Way divided the people of Brighton Beach. A simple sign Ukrainian Way, which should appear at the intersection in the center of the district, has become a cause for controversy. Some immigrants do not want to see a new symbol of support for the Ukrainian people under their homes, reports “The Bureau“, a Russian-language news channel about New York.

The legendary Brighton Beach area in New York is changing its name. Such rumors spread around the city and on social networks. In fact, the reason was a completely different news. The fact is that in Brighton Beach there will be a second name at one of the intersections. Now the intersection of Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue will be called Ukrainian Way.

There is no sign with an additional name at the intersection yet. But they say that not all residents of Brighton Beach agree that such a name will be at this particular intersection.

Now at the crossroads, in addition to the names of the avenue, there is the name of a Ukrainian immigrant and the head of the Odessa community of New York, Valery Savinkin. He passed away in 2017. His son was killed in the September 11 attacks. Naming streets and intersections after heroes - police officers, firemen, community activists - is a tradition in New York.

One of the first to announce the new name of the Ukrainian Way was Sergey Kislitsa.

And then it turned out that one of the initiators of the appearance of the plate was a member of the New York City Council, Inna Vernikova. She immigrated to America from Ukraine.

“A couple of months ago, I suggested adding another name, Ukrainian Way, to support everyone. All the families of people who died in this war. And to show that we support Ukraine,” says Inna.

In social networks, Brighton residents began to resent: “Did the people’s representatives ask the people themselves?”

For example, a member of the local public council, Lena Pechenik, states: “The very procedure for assigning an additional name to a street involves voting in the local council. In the case of Ukrainian Way, there was no discussion.”

“There is nothing to discuss here,” says Mikhail Degtyarev from Kiev. He emigrated to Brighton in 1993. For all the time he never returned to Ukraine. He didn't even come to visit.

“It's very symbolic, I think. Lots of people, lots of opinions. Ukrainian Way instead of Brighton is very good. And the war, I hope, will end with the victory of Ukraine. She will return Donetsk, and all the captured cities, and Crimea, ”he notes.

On the subject: Brighton Beach Avenue in New York will be renamed the Ukrainian Way

Immigrants from the Soviet Union began to come to Brighton Beach in the early 1970s. Historians refer to this time as the first wave of Jewish immigration. Then the Soviet authorities allowed them to leave for Israel. But many got to Europe and flew to America.

Brighton experienced a second wave of immigration in the 1990s. And it was then that a lot of people from Odessa appeared here. Then the name “Little Odessa” appeared.

Now, because of the war in Ukraine, refugees are coming here and coming. But 6 years ago, half a million immigrants from Ukraine lived in Brighton Beach.

Regina Sator calls herself a first-wave immigrant. She has questions about the appearance of the Ukrainian way to Brighton Beach.

“So after all, support is needed from people, this will not help anyone. This inscription will not do anything to anyone. This is not Ukraine. It is possible to call this street Odessa. Or call it Black Sea, because we always went to the beach here,” she says.

Brighton even has its own association of Ukrainians. The organization was once founded by Beth Singer, the granddaughter of the first Odessa immigrants: “Another name for Brighton should have been invented a long time ago. But the war made it happen only now. I am proud of my Ukrainian roots. But I didn't even realize how important it was to me. When there is a war, I understand how strong this feeling is. My heart is there now. And I am for the inscription “Ukrainian Way” here.”

“We live here. We have a sixth Brighton Beach, a seventh, a fifth. Why should we change anything? There are already so many Ukrainian flags hanging everywhere, people are glued to cars in support. We are against the war, but there is simply no point in changing the name of the streets, ”says businesswoman Ella Zuren.

She has lived in Brighton for half a century. Originally a woman from Russia, but then moved to Kherson. And from there in the 1970s already to America. She absolutely does not like the idea of ​​assigning another name to the main intersection in Brighton. She believes that the Ukrainian Way sign can hang here for a very short time.

“Maybe she will hang, but hardly anyone will pay attention to her. And this is not entirely correct. Not only Ukrainians are feeling bad now, but Russian people are also suffering now. My family lives in Ukraine, but there are also relatives in Moscow and the Far East. I believe that everyone is suffering today. Yes, and the Poles suffered from a huge influx of refugees, ”the woman added.

Many immigrants simply do not want to discuss the news about the new name of the intersection. Mazhit Abdurakhmanov nevertheless agreed.

“America and New York are such a country and such a city that fights for the rights of people around the world. And defends, and it turns out. But if it reacts to every unrest in every country, then I think there won't be enough streets. This is unproductive,” he said.

The inhabitants of Brighton oppose the war, and Putna is called the aggressor. There is no consensus on the board. The entire Russian-speaking street of America was divided in half.

For more news about New York and its people, see channel "Bureau".