Robinson Street businesses want Backstreet Boulevard to put them on the map

JOURNALIST WANTS ROBINSON STREET NAMED AFTER LOVERBOY VOCALIST

PENTICTON – Robinson Street is slated to become Backstreet Boulevard despite minor protesting at Tuesday's city council meeting. One person suggested naming it after former Penticton resident and Loverboy lead singer, John Mike Reno.

Property and business owners asked council to change the name and were supported by the city's museum advisory board. Jill Beaven protested. "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

Beaven lives in the area to be affected and was told the new name would be cute and make the street and its businesses easier to find. She disagreed and said Burger 55 at 85 Westminster Ave. East is always busy. Coun. John Vassilaki echoed her comment. He and Coun. Andrew Jakubeit voted against the name change. Councilors Wesley Hopkin, Judy Sentes and Helena Konanz voted for it.

Penticton Herald editor James Miller lives in the area and said few were informed about the name change. "Not allowing the residents to know this was going on created a lot of hard feelings." He called the city unprofessional in not sharing information with everyone involved.

The veteran journalist added if a name change is needed it should honor Reno. He said American communities are always honouring their famous residents. "I think that would be really cool."

The motion to change the name has passed third and final reading and council will vote on making the change official at a future council meeting.

To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1