RES 2022-0144 - Rudy Smith Sr. Commemorative Street Name City Clerk Office Use Only:
RESOLUTION NO. 21)22-H1-1-4 Publication Date (if.pplic.•le):
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Agenda Date:
Department: A ,/_
Submitter: L1_I ! IP
CITY OF OMAHA
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER
Omaha, Nebraska
RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OMAHA:
WHEREAS, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the City of
Omaha to provide for commemorative street names; and,
WHEREAS, a nomination has been submitted for the designation of "Rudy Smith
Sr. Street" as a commemorative street name on Lake Street from 34th Avenue to 36th Street;
and,
WHEREAS, Rudy Smith was a civil rights activist in Omaha during the 1960s. He
organized multiple peaceful protests during this time and later became the President of the
NAACP's Youth Council for a seven-state region. Rudy was a photo journalist for the Omaha
World Herald for over 45 years and was the first full-time Black employee in the World-
Herald's newsroom. This street sign would honor Smith on Lake Street from 34th Avenue to
36th Street.
WHEREAS, the Planning Director and the City Councilmember representing the
district in which the item proposed is located have recommended that said permit be granted
pursuant to the application, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part
hereof by this reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
OMAHA:
THAT, that the nomination of "Rudy Smith Sr. Street" as a commemorative street
name on Lake Street from 34th Avenue to 36th Street is hereby approved; and the Public Works
Department is authorized to erect the acceptable sign(s) therefore, in compliance with all
applicable local and state statutes, ordinances or regulations, and policies with all costs to be
borne by the applicant.
RESOLUTION NO.2h l Di4-4
PAGE cj
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
---CCITY ORNE DATE
Adopted: FEB 15 LUZ 1 V
Attest:
City Clerk
Approved: t�
Mayor
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INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
January 5, 2022
TO: President and Members of the City Council
FROM: David K. Fanslau, Planning Director
SUBJECT: Commemorative Street Designation of"Rudy Smith Sr. Street"
Based on my review and on the criteria for Commemorative Designations in Chapter 27 of the
Omaha Municipal Code, it is my recommendation that the commemorative street name of"Rudy
Smith Sr. Street" be applied to Lake Street from 34th Avenue to 36th Street.
Rudy Smith was a civil rights activist in Omaha during the 1960s. He organized multiple
peaceful protests during this time and later became the President of the NAACP's Youth
Council for a seven-state region. Rudy was a photo journalist for the Omaha World Herald for
over 45 years and was the first full-time Black employee in the World-Herald's newsroom. This
street sign would honor Smith on Lake Street from 34th Avenue to 36th Street.
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
January 5, 2022
TO: David K. Fanslau, Planning Director
FROM: Juanita Johnson, Councilmember
SUBJECT: "Rudy Smith Sr. Stre t" Commemorative Street Name Request
As the ouncilmember re senting Council District 2, I support the application for the
comme orative street nam on Lake Street from 34th Avenue to 36th Street to be called "Rudy
Smith Sr. Street."
cc: Councilmembers
Elizabeth Butler, City Clerk
Omaha City Planning Department For Office Use Only
Date Filed ' I - -1,
F_? 'a \
APPLICATION Fee $ I L")
Receipt# 1 -)I-1 9 \ 6
PUBLIC PROPERTY NAMING/RENAMING Case#
Feature�/ to be Named:
[4J Street ❑ Park ❑ Library El Other
/Check following box if application is a Commemorative Naming
W1iApplicantG. }/ '
Name Add ess Zi Ph ne#
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EMail�(dd�r �� "/ � gr
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L cation/Property Address d\q,A C J4,( ' I, ?,,,�, i Lelk.{.1-1
(LMO /4'in4-011-4kei (
Proposed Name to be Assigned ii‘ {4/ s A
Description and Significance: Please providth 9 //j4i47.thorough a description as possible and explain why it
is appropriate to name this feature in this way. The proposed naming/renaming should address the
applicable criteria as defined in Section 27-150 through Section 27-154 — Naming of Public Property.
Additional pages or supplemental materials may be attached as necessary.
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we,// FILING FEE: $1,050. — Public Property Naming/Renaming "7f /)i ,
$108. —Commemorative Naming/Renaming '� tx"G
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(filing fee includ s Tech logy and Trai ing Fee)
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If this application f orNovi,g of a public street, a petition must be included that is s gned by at 61
least 60 percent of the number of owners of properties abutting the portion of the street to be renamed.
Such petition forms can be picked up at the City of Omaha Planning Department.
If this application is for a commemorative designation and the request is approved by the City Council,
the applicant shall contact the appropriate City department to determine the number of signs needed
and the cost to the applicant to make and install them.
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Back in the day, Dec. 31, 2008: World-Herald photographer
Rudy Smith retires after 45-year career
SHERITHA JONES Dec 31, 2021
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World-Herald photojournalist Rudy Smith in the early 1970s.
THE WORLD-HERALD
SHERITHA JONES
A sampling of Rudy Smith's World-Herald photos
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Browse through some of the photos taken by The World-Herald's Rudy Smith during his 45-year career.
Rudy Smith, who was the first full-time Black employee in The World-Herald's
newsroom, began his career in 1963 — the same year Martin Luther King Jr. delivered
his "I Have a Dream" speech. Smith retired 13 years ago today.
During his 45 years as a photographer, he captured U.S. presidents, football stars,
convicted murderers and community leaders.
Being the first — and the only — Black employee was hard. It was three or•four years, he
said, before another Black person was hired in the newsroom.
Smith, started as a copy messenger, then worked as a darkroom technician. He put
himself through college at Omaha University, now the University of Nebraska at Omaha,
by working at the paper. Eventually, he became a full-time photographer. Smith always
loved taking pictures,but working for The World-Herald was more than that for him.
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THROUGH THE LENS '4 me
OF RUDY SMITH
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With a career that started in 1963, the year Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, and ended in
2008, right after Barack Obama was elected president, photographer Rudy Smith had the unique perspective of
living, making and capturing history. The Black Experience through the Lens of Rudy Smith highlights his work
chronicling Omaha's African American community. Learn more
Smith was known for many contributions, chief among them his approach to
documenting life in Nebraska, in Omaha and in the city's Black community.
He said his intention was to capture life, Black life, as it is. He saw himself more as a
realist than an artist.
For this, Ernie Britt saw to it that Smith was installed in the Nebraska Black Sports Hall
of Fame.
Grace: Omaha NAACP chapter to honor Rudy Smith, longtime
,: crusader for civil rights
By Erin Grace/World-Herald columnist
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Smith lettered in track, football and wrestling at Central High, but it
was his eye and his presence that won him Britt's admiration. Smith found a role
documenting the careers of Black athletes in the state.
His last year at the paper will be remembered for the election of Barack Obama, the
country's first Black president.
Smith died in 2019 after receiving an unexpected cancer diagnosis several weeks prior.
He was 74.
Longtime World-Herald photographer Rudy Smith, 74, documented
and made history
` ss:,,; By Erin Grace World-Herald staff writer
`_ ‘st hen asked, in 2008, how he felt about being the first Black employee
in the newsroom of Nebraska's largest paper, he said being first wasn't important to him.
"What's important to me is that I'm not the last."
For Smith, his career was about breaking barriers here, in Nebraska, and he did what he
set out to do.
"My whole purpose of coming here was to open doors for minorities," Smith said.
"Something had to be done. Somebody had to do it. So why not me?"