Council approves honorary renaming of one-block stretch of MLK for James Buskey after heated public remarks

The Mobile City Council on July 22 approved an ordinance to honorarily rename a one-block stretch of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue as James Buskey Avenue.

The vote came after several council members and public speakers defended the designation as recognition of Buskey’s longtime support for the Franklin Memorial Clinic and neighborhood services. “When the clinic first started and there was no money to pay for the employees, Mr. Buskey paid for those employees himself out of his personal funds,” Councilmember Carroll said during debate.

The measure covers the block from Cuba Street to Rollins Street, the block that includes the Franklin Memorial Clinic. Supporters said the honorary naming recognizes Buskey’s personal and financial role in sustaining the clinic and securing medical care for underserved residents.

The item drew interruptions from an audience member, prompting repeated warnings from the presiding officer that further outbursts could lead to suspension. Council members indicated they considered those disruptions serious; the session included a short recess and tense exchanges before the vote.

The council recorded the motion and approved the honorary renaming. No formal amendment to the ordinance’s scope was reported during the session. The council’s action is honorary and limited to the one block named in the motion.

The council did not discuss changing official street signage citywide, and the measure does not alter the underlying legal name of the thoroughfare beyond the single-block honorary designation.