Congress Asked To Change Uptown's Name To Quisqueya Heights

NORTHERN MANHATTAN, NY — An effort to rename Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights and Inwood as Quisqueya Heights and make it a "cultural hub for Dominican Americans across the nation" is awaiting discussion in Washington D.C.

The resolution was introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat earlier this year alongside two other representatives from Texas.

Quisqueya is one of the names in the Taino language for the island that is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is also the name of a municipality within the Dominican Republic.

As of July 2021, the resolution has only been introduced to the House and has no timeline for its approval or possible transition into law.

Espaillat's resolution lists six central requests of the House relating to the Northern Manhattan name change:

"(1) supports the renaming of Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, and Inwood to Quisqueya Heights in collaboration with local officials to recognize the area as the cultural hub for Dominican Americans across the Nation;

(2) supports the engagement with Google, Wikipedia, Global Positioning System applications, post offices, Metropolitan Transportation Authority maps, and tourist maps to recognize Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, and Inwood as Quisqueya Heights;

(3) supports the fight against the gentrification of the neighborhood that is threatening the identity of Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, and Inwood;

(4) opposes the rebranding of the Washington Heights, and Inwood neighborhoods to Wahi;

(5) recognizes the Dominican community’s contributions to Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, and Inwood; and

(6) honors the long-standing history and rich contributions of Dominican-American elected officials, artists, small business and bodega owners, writers, and trailblazers."

The resolution lists 50 points showcasing the importance of Dominican history and culture in Northern Manhattan, including demographic statistics, Dominican businesses, influential Dominican figures that have passed through and lived in the neighborhoods, and more.

You can read the full resolution here.