Mayor unofficially renames Topeka ‘Google’ to lure Internet company to Kansas capital
By APTuesday, March 2, 2010
Topeka renames (unofficially) to ‘Google, Kan.’
TOPEKA, Kan. — Topeka’s mayor says the city shall temporarily be referred to as “Google, Kansas — the capital city of fiber optics,” in an effort to persuade the Internet giant to test an ultra-fast connection in the state capital.
Mayor Bill Bunten issued the proclamation Monday after no city council members objected to the monthlong change.
Bunten says the proclamation is mainly for fun, but that he hopes it will set Topeka apart from other cities vying for Google’s fiber optics experiment, including Grand Rapids, Mich., and Baton Rouge, La.
Google didn’t immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.
City attorney Jackie Williams says Topeka cannot legally be temporarily renamed, but that the proclamation asking for it to be referred to as “Google” was OK.
Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal, www.cjonline.com
