Soon Streets Only Will Be Named For Numbers And Jesus

Some are looking to change the name of “Corbin Place” in Brooklyn’s Manhattan Beach now that everybody understands how much of a raging anti-semite namesake Austin Corbin was:

Over the last two weeks, several dozen Corbin Place residents have contacted the Community Board 15 office, demanding to know how the name change would affect everything from their mail to the deeds to their homes.

“It seems that the news has finally hit them that they [Corbin Place residents] will have to do some work,” said Community Board 15 Chair Theresa Scavo, who said that most of the calls she’s answered at the board offices were from residents voicing their outrage.

“I’ve answered about 50 phone calls all about the same things,” she said. “Over and over I’m told that people are afraid that the name change is going to be more like they’re moving.”

Dozens more calls regarding the same concerns have been sent to State Senator Carl Kruger’s office, as well as the offices of City Councilmember Michael Nelson, who is spearheading the charge to get the street renamed.

To assuage the concerns of residents, Nelson is reportedly bringing representatives from the United States Post Office, as well as an attorney to talk about what block residents will and will not be required to do if the name change goes through.

The street, ironically, is already named for the person who put Manhattan Beach on the map: Austin Corbin.

In the late 1800s, Corbin built the first railroads to the Town of Gravesend, which was later broken up into the neighborhoods of Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach and Coney Island.

Corbin is also credited with building several hotels in the area, including the Manhattan Beach Hotel, a premier vacation spot for millionaires, elected officials and the Broadway stars of the time.

But sometimes you have to take history warts and all.

As indicated in Daily News columnist Denis Hamill’s story, besides building up Manhattan Beach, Corbin was a president of the American Society of the Suppression of Jews.

He often spoke out against Jews and Jewish causes.

According to an article in the Brooklyn Eagle that Hamill cited in his piece, Corbin said Jews “were a pretentious class who expect three times as much for their money as other people.”

“They [Jews] are a detestable and vulgar people,” he repeatedly said in statements to the press.

The fresh look at historical facts has prompted many to demand a name change, said Nelson.

“The majority of people living in the area are Jewish,” Nelson said in an earlier interview. “It just doesn’t seem right to have a street, especially in our little corner of the world, named after this despicable character.”

But doesn’t this quickly get problematic once you start digging too deep? After all, Peter Stuyvesant — think Stuyvesant Place, Stuyvesant Town and Stuyvesant High School — was a bit of a Jew hater, too. Then there’s Cortlandt Street — named for the Van Cortlandt Family, who happened to be slaveowners. And Dey Street — named for Dirck Dey, another slaveowner. Oh, and William Houstoun — who Houston Street is named for — slaveowner, too. And don’t forget Thomas Jefferson — who Jefferson Street is named for — slaveowner and slave rapist.