CUNY Law Professor Rebecca Bratspies found herself sitting in heavy traffic on the Major Deegan Expressway — a notoriously busy thoroughfare in NYC. 



She began to wonder who exactly this Major Deegan was? A war hero? Some notable military figure? Surely, there must be a story of some note attached to the man after whom this major roadway is named?

Her subsequent research resulted in a book titled Naming Gotham in which she explores the figures behind the names of infrastructure projects and the methodology of naming them.

Guest: Prof. Rebecca Bratspies

NAMING GOTHAM

Music and sound effects: Pixabay

Season 4 is wrapping up so there won't be any episodes in December. But Season 5 will be launched in January 2024, where we will talk to the man who found Saddam Hussein, and the lawyer who defended 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. We also travel to the other end of the world -- Antarctica -- to speak with New Zealand government researchers protecting historic sites on the continent. Plus, astronaut Jim Wetherbee is back, as is popular guest Prof. Margaret Schwartz will be back to discuss Lady Diana.