New Jersey School to Revert Name Following Senator Menendez's Conviction

A New Jersey elementary school named after Senator Bob Menendez is set to change its name following his conviction on federal bribery charges on July 16. Robert Menendez Elementary in West New York will revert to its original name, Public School No. 3, before the upcoming academic year. This decision was reported by the New Jersey Globe, citing Mayor Albio Sires, who noted the school had been named after Menendez in 2013 as a gesture of goodwill after a political rivalry. The renaming of the school reflects a broader trend in New Jersey, where public institutions have distanced themselves from disgraced officials. Notably, Princeton University removed Woodrow Wilson's name from its college and public affairs school due to his administration's racially segregated policies. Similarly, the name of former Senator Harrison A. Williams Jr. was stripped from a train station following his conviction in the Abscam scandal. Menendez, who served as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was found guilty of 16 charges, including accepting bribes from New Jersey businessmen. Following the verdict, prominent Democrats, including Senator Cory Booker and Governor Phil Murphy, called for his resignation. Menendez confirmed he would resign effective August 20, while also indicating plans to appeal his conviction, stating he did not want his legal issues to interfere with Senate operations.