Gov. Cuomo joins call for Rochester Amtrak station to be named after Louise Slaughter

Lauren Peace
Democrat and Chronicle
Jamie Germano/@jgermano1/Staff Photographer 
Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, who beat Mark Assini to win re-election to Congress, speaks at Democratic headquarters at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Louise Slaughter beat Mark Assini  to be re-elected to Congress and speaks at the Democratic headquarters at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Governor Andrew Cuomo called for Amtrak to rename the Rochester Intermodal Station after the late U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, who died on Friday. She was 88 years old.

In an open letter issued by Cuomo to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson on Sunday, Cuomo joined Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in urging the station name be changed in honor of the former representative who worked to secure better public transportation in the region. Slaughter helped secure $18 million in federal money to see the station open in October 2017.

Proposal:Name Rochester's train station after Louise Slaughter

"The New York community continues to mourn the passing of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. She was a larger than life presence who made all New Yorkers proud over her decades of service," wrote Cuomo. "The beautiful new station, which the congresswoman and I opened in October, is a gateway to the Finger Lakes — welcoming passengers with a better travel experience, improved rail service and a world-class facility. Thanks to the congresswoman's tireless dedication to this project, Rochester finally has a train station of the caliber the region deserves."

He went on to write: "It is fitting that this shining example of Rochester's revitalization bear the name of a leader who was integral to making it happen — Congresswoman Louise Slaughter."

LPEACE@Gannett.com