A New York street has been named after its most famous inhabitant writer, Sergei Dovlatov, who settled there after fleeing the Soviet Union in 1979.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio personally signed the law designating the intersection of 63rd Drive and 108th Street in Queens as "Sergei Dovlatov Way," according to a statement released by the mayor's office this week.
New York City Hall earlier approved the name after fans gathered 17,500 signatures to name the street — located in the Forest Hills section of Queens— in the writer's honor.
A new street sign will go up near the building where Dovlatov lived and worked, the statement said.
Dovlatov arrived in the U.S. in 1979 and quickly became a leading figure among Russian literary emigres such as Joseph Brodsky and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
The renaming is part of the city's plan to name 63 streets "in honor of individuals and entities that have made lasting contributions to New York City," de Blasio's office said.
See also:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
