In Chicago, locals recently participated in the annual “You Name A Snowplow” contest, and the results are in! The city’s Streets and Sanitation Department announced six fun names after a two-week voting period. This contest, now in its fourth year, invites residents to submit creative names online. The top 25 names are then voted on by the public.
This year’s winners include:
- Abolish ICE
- Stephen Coldbert
- Pope Frío XIV
- The Blizzard of Oz
- Svencoolie
- Caleb Chilliams
Interestingly, about 80% of name submissions were related to political themes, particularly “Abolish ICE,” reflecting community voices on important issues. The contest saw a record 13,300 name entries and 39,000 votes. This level of engagement highlights Chicagoans’ creativity and willingness to partake in civic activities.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed gratitude for the overwhelming participation. In a press release, he said, “We are thankful for the record-breaking participation and encourage Chicagoans to engage with their local government.”
Each of the winning names will grace a snowplow in one of the city’s six snow districts. The residents who submitted the winning names will even get a chance to take photos with their named snowplows and snag some city merchandise.
Chicago maintains a fleet of over 300 salt spreaders that cover around 9,400 lane miles during winter storms. Residents can track these snowplows, including the newly named ones, through the city’s real-time snowplow tracker.
These kinds of contests not only foster community engagement but also create a light-hearted atmosphere in the often-serious world of local government. It reflects a blend of humor and civic pride that characterizes Chicagoans. In a time when public participation is vital, initiatives like this can strengthen community bonds.
As trends in civic engagement evolve, it’s clear that fun and creativity can motivate people to connect with their cities in meaningful ways.
