Does Broward's Airport Need A Longer Name?
DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami) - How many hyphens does an airport name need? According to the city of Dania Beach, when you're Broward County's international airport, you need at least one more, no matter how long it makes the name.
The Dania Beach City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a resolution to ask Broward County Commission to add the city's name and presence to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Commissioner Anne Castro said she wants to see the name of Dania Beach on the airport's parking garage.
"It used to be up there so why not put it back," Castro told CBS 4's Carey Codd.
Castro said the city will not seek to have the airport's designation legally changed. She also said she wants to see display's inside the airport promoting Dania Beach's businesses, similar to what is done for Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
Castro said it'll be a great "marketing tool" for the city.
However, the city spent years and large sums of money to fight an expansion at the airport. CBS 4 News asked Castro if it's hypocritical for the city of Dania Beach to ask for its' name to be on the parking garage.
"I don't think it's hypocritical," Castro said. "Remember what the fight was about -- it was never about the expansion. The fight was about compensating homeowners who were losing value of their homes and quality of life because of the expansion.
It will be up to Broward County whether to approve the changes.
Commissioners argue that part of the sprawling complex does sit within the city limits. In fact, some of the land for the original airport was donated by what was then the city of Dania Beach, and the name was part of the original airport.
But as it grew, Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale donated more land, and little Dania was shunted off the sign.
That's a slight that rankles some city officials.
A while back, Dania changed it's name to Dania Beach, even though the city has just a mile or so of beach to boast of. It's a tiny part of the city, but it makes the city sound more Florida.
Now, the city wants everyone coming to or leaving from the airport to have it's name on their lips, though they might have to pause for a breath, because Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood-Dania Beach International Airport is a mouthful.
Or if they do it alphabetically, Dania Beach-Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The city has said it's also OK with something less, such as "Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Dania Beach."
Airport officials say changing the name would bring complications, including changing the airport's branding, changing a lot of signage, and getting federal approval for the new name, just to start.
And then, there are the passengers. Most could care less about official monikers. To them, it's simply Ft. Lauderdale Airport, no matter what name is on the sign.
