Oakland | The Adobo Chronicles

Sacramento, California – Yesterday, the western span of the Bay Bridge was officially named Willie L. Brown Jr Bridge in honor of the former San Francisco mayor and speaker of the California State Assembly.

Well, that didn’t sit well with two-time California governor, former state attorney general and former Oakland city mayor Jerry Brown . “I have as many titles attached to my name – not to mention my longevity in public service – as my good friend Willie,” Jerry said, “so why am I not being afforded the same honor, at least as far as the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge is concerned?”

The new eastern span of the Bay Bridge (foreground)

Jerry is reportedly planning a personal visit with Oakland city officials, including incumbent mayor Jean Quan, to lobby for his own bridge of fame. Quan said that naming the eastern span of the bridge after Jerry Brown makes absolute sense. “If this happens, then people can call the entire bridge, both eastern and western spans, simply ‘the Brown Bridge,’ ” she added.

In the end, it is the state legislature, not local officials, that will make the decision.

We’d like to get our readers’ comments: Should the eastern span of the Bay Bridge be named after Californa Governor Jerry Brown? .

Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco – As crews from Caltrans battle against time to ensure the timely opening of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge the day after Labor Day, the Asian mayors of San Francisco and Oakland are engaged in a rhetorical duel over the name of the new structure.

Oakland mayor Jean Quan wants the new span to be named the Oakland Bay Bridge while San Francisco mayor Ed Lee insists it should be called the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Quan argues that the new span sits on the eastern side of the Oakland City and Alameda County line, but Lee says that the tower of the new bridge casts its shadow over the western side, right by Yerba Buena Island which is part of the City and County of San Francisco.

Quan said that Oakland needs a landmark to help its tourism image. “San Francisco already has the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, ” Quan said , ” so I hope Lee would not be so greedy to claim the new Bay Bridge span as well.”

To settle the issue, two “Browns” are mediating. California Governor Jerry Brown proposed a public debate between the two Asian Mayors and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown has volunteered to be the judge.

Both mayors have tentatively agreed to the debate.