A Bob Hope Airport?
Tim Willert
A campaign to rename the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport after Bob
Hope commenced Tuesday night.
Former Burbank mayor Michael Hastings asked the City Council to
back a proposal to rename the facility after the legendary
entertainer, who died Sunday at 100 of complications from pneumonia.
“We’ve been talking about renaming the airport after Bob Hope,”
said Hastings, a Hope family friend who was accompanied to the
meeting by longtime Hope publicist Ward Grant. “It just seemed to
make sense that this is the time to submit this proposal to the
[cities].”
Hastings asked the council to get behind a committee to explore
the possibility of renaming the airport, and said he would oversee
all fund-raising efforts.
“I’m sure there are going to be some costs incurred, but we don’t
want the entities to be saddled with costs,” Hastings said. “We would
work very hard to have it all funded privately.”
Council members Dave Golonski and Marsha Ramos expressed support
for the proposal, which will be considered at the council’s Aug. 12
meeting.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Golonski said. “I don’t imagine
funding would be an issue.”
Also on Tuesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced plans to
introduce a congressional resolution to name the city’s downtown post
office, at 135 E. Olive Ave., after Hope.
“I urge my colleagues in the Congress to join me in honoring Bob
Hope’s numerous contributions to our country,” Schiff released in a
statement.
Schiff said he plans to introduce the resolution when Congress
returns from its August recess. The City Council will also consider
whether to support the proposal Aug. 12.