State agencies and Florida schools would have to update materials to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America,” under a measure filed this week in the state Senate.
Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican who is a close ally of Trump, filed the proposal (SB 1058) for consideration during the legislative session that will start March 4. It would require state agencies, county school districts and charter school boards to use materials that reflect the Gulf of America name.
It would also require schools to “adopt and acquire instructional materials” that reflect the new name, which would presumably impose significant financial burdens on districts that may have only recently adopted materials usually in use for several years at a time.
Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, R-Miami, filed a similar bill (HB 549) last week in the House. Gruter’s bill also calls for U.S. 41, from Miami-Dade County to Hillsborough County, to be designated as the “Gulf of America Trail,” instead of the Tamiami Trail. It was so named as a combination between Tampa and Miami.
Meanwhile, Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, and House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, have filed bills (SB 608 and HB 575) that would change references in state laws from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Numerous news organizations are following the lead of the Associated Press, whose style is generally–but not always–the standard in newsrooms. “The body of water has shared borders between the U.S. and Mexico. Trump’s order only carries authority within the United States. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change,” the AP states. “The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
–FlaglerLive and News Service of Florida
Deborah Coffey says
Is it possible that every Republican in America is on crack? At least, that would be a reason for their lust to burn America to the ground.
Jackson says
Think of all the money Trump is causing to be spent, like remaking maps. It is such a colossal waste of resources that could otherwise be used to help make peoples’ lives better. A real tribute to Trump.
NANCY SKADDEN says
Stupidity!
Heinie Manush says
Screw that and screw him.
another concerned taxpayer says
Any excuse to waste more public tax dollars, a bunch of idiots!!! All on a whim of an neurotic felon. Another job for the new Florida DOGE team, wasteful spending. If they want to change all of that, let them pay for it out of their salaries.
Atwp says
White Republicans at their best.
Bob says
Just send a sharpie to every household and when they see anything with the Gulf of Mexico on it change it to the Gulf of America !!!
Justbob says
Yawn… Still the Gulf of Mexico to me… And I will thusly and forever refer to it as such.
Laurel says
Okay, MAGAs, explain the necessity of renaming the Gulf on a whim from an egotistical man, and explain how the waste of money, time, books, maps, pamphlets, paper, websites, etc. is efficient? I’m listening.
Are you getting it now? It’s all bullshit, on your dime.
The Tamiami Trail will always be the Tamiami Trail to me. The Gulf of Mexico will always be the Gulf of Mexico to me. Anything else is sucking on the rear of a psycho.
Joe D says
And who is PAYING for all these name changes in textbooks and maps, and signs, and documents!?!
WHO? You KNOW WHO……You the taxpayer! Although I would like to buy several “Trump Folly” reprinted text books…one for each Grandchild! They can sell the HISTORICAL RARE BOOKS and make a lot of money years down the road like coin, stamp and other RARE ODDITIES collectors items of misprints and memorabilia.
What a Narcissistic MORON! Of course, it’s not his money he’s wasting…it’s YOURS!
Day by day Trump 2.0 gets more and more outrageous…and DANGEROUS!
C says
So these are the people who need to send an email to Elon explaining what they have got done. Naming streets and bodies of water? Exactly how much time is that taking up during the day? I seriously want to know. Drafting the proposals, sending emails…. Don’t forget going out into the community and gaining support. Let’s have a 2 1/2 hour lunch on the public’s dime to discuss how much more secure and free we will all be by calling it “Gulf of America Blvd.”
DaleL says
Place names are rather like the meaning of words in a dictionary. They are subject to popular usage, custom and history. There is no formal system to designate a place name for all of us to agree upon.
In biology (science), our common native green (brown when cold) anole lizard is: Anolis carolinensis. People typically call it the green anole or Carolina anole. It is sometimes referred to as American green anole or even American chameleon. However, it is and will always be Anolis (genus) carolinensis (species).
I am troubled that so much fuss is being made over the name of the Gulf. I shall continue to call it Gulf of Mexico or just The Gulf. But then I am a stubborn old man. I just find all this to be a waste of time, money, and effort. It is a Trump distraction from the real issues facing our nation.
I hope to travel to Constantinople or even Saigon one day. I flew twice in and out of Idlewild airport on my way to Europe in 2019. Names change, but the location of a place does not.