Back in August, a week after actor Robin Williams committed suicide, we reported that more than 5,000 people signed a Change.org petition to rename Marin County's iconic rainbow tunnel after the departed comedian, a longtime Marin County resident. Since August, the number of petition signers grew to 55,000, and now a resolution will go to the state assembly in December to rename the tunnel (now currently named the Waldo Tunnel) on Highway 101.
Robin Williams spent his last years living in Tiburon, and the Change.org petition was started by a Belvedere resident, Julie Wainwright, who told SFGate that the homage to Williams was sparked his connection to the community. She remembers seeing him in the community "running errands, walking the dog, performing at the local theater, working at the coffee shop." California State Assembly's Marc Levine also explains the rainbows, which were painted onto the tunnel in 1970, are a nod to Williams' early role as Mork, a character who was usually wearing rainbow suspenders.
Levine has been supportive of the petition, and made sure to get approval from Williams' family before moving forward with the proposal. The family has given their blessing and the resolution will now have to be passed by the Assembly and the state Senate to pass. The cost of $6000 to rename the tunnel will come from privately funded money, says SFGate.
[Via: SFGate; photo by Shruti via Flickr]
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