The island’s three city commissions were set to vote April 1 on petitions to hold a November referendum on changing the name of Gulf Drive to “Gulf of America Drive.”
The commission votes, set to take place after The Islander went to press, were in response to petitions submitted by Make Anna Maria Island Great Again.
MAMIGA, which kept the petition drive low key and sought voter signatures at a few select island businesses, issued this statement: “As the Gulf of America graces the west shore of Anna Maria Island, it is fitting and appropriate for our great Island to come together and commemorate this momentous time and name the main north-south thoroughfare Gulf of America Drive.”
MAMIGA, in a news release, also called on the commissions to conduct an islandwide survey of place names.
“I don’t know about ‘Los Cedros Drive’ in Anna Maria,” said MAMIGA chair Joe King. “Isn’t that someplace in Ecuador? And Jacaranda just sounds un-American.”
Asked for comments on the ballot drive, the island mayors issued a joint statement to The Islander: “LOL. Gulf of America Drive. Happy April Fools’ Day.”
Editor’s note: And happy April Fools’ Day to you from The Islander. None of this is real.