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Chicago’s snowplow naming contest has transformed into a political statement this year, with “Abolish ICE” emerging as the clear winner among voters. The cleverly punning name serves dual purposes – referencing both winter ice removal and expressing opposition to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that conducted widespread operations in the city last fall.
The winning name comes in the wake of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a major immigration crackdown that began in September and resulted in over 4,000 arrests and one fatal shooting. The operation sparked considerable tension in Chicago, particularly among its substantial immigrant communities. Despite freezing winter temperatures, “ICE Out” protests have continued downtown, near ICE facilities, and throughout Chicago’s suburban areas.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed appreciation for Chicagoans’ “unmatched creativity, sense of humor, and civic pride” in a statement following the announcement. When questioned about potential controversy surrounding the name, a spokesperson for Johnson noted that “Abolish ICE” won by a substantial margin, adding, “The people of Chicago clearly have no issue with the name of this snowplow.”
The Department of Streets and Sanitation and the Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the politically charged name.
Chicago’s snowplow naming contest, now in its fourth year, follows similar traditions in other U.S. cities, though few produce names with such political edge. Nashville honors country music legend Dolly Parton with “Dolly Plowton,” while Minnesota has “Taylor Drift” as a nod to pop superstar Taylor Swift.
The remaining five winning names in Chicago showcase the city’s sense of humor and cultural pride. “Stephen Coldbert” pays tribute to late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert, while “Pope Frio XIV” cleverly combines the Spanish word for “cold” with a reference to Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV.
Horror fans will appreciate “Svencoolie,” a play on beloved local TV horror host Svengoolie, while fantasy enthusiasts get “Blizzard of Oz.” Chicago’s newfound football optimism is reflected in “Caleb Chilliams,” named for quarterback Caleb Williams who led the Bears to their first playoff appearance in 15 years.
According to Ryan Gage, spokesperson for the Streets and Sanitation department, the contest followed established procedures from previous years. Citizens submitted names through the Chicago Shovels website, with department staff reviewing submissions to select finalists. These were then forwarded to the mayor’s office for final approval.
The naming contest has seen record-breaking participation this year, with 13,300 plow name submissions and 39,000 final votes cast. The six winning names will each be applied to one of the city’s snowplows.
Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation maintains a fleet of 300 trucks responsible for clearing 9,400 miles of city streets during winter weather events. The newly named plows will join this fleet in maintaining the city’s infrastructure during Chicago’s notoriously harsh winter season.
The “Abolish ICE” snowplow name represents a unique intersection of practical municipal services and political expression, reflecting the city’s progressive political leanings and its ongoing tensions with federal immigration enforcement policies. As winter continues, Chicagoans will see these creatively named vehicles working to keep their streets clear, with each name carrying its own cultural or political significance.
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7 Comments
It will be intriguing to see how this plays out and if the city maintains the ‘Abolish ICE’ name or opts for something more neutral. Civic engagement is valuable, but there may be a line around overtly political messaging on public assets.
The strong support for ‘Abolish ICE’ is a clear statement from Chicago residents. Whether one agrees with the politics or not, it’s good to see people actively participating in these kinds of community activities.
The ‘Abolish ICE’ name is certainly eye-catching. I’d be curious to learn more about the local context and debate around immigration enforcement in Chicago that may have influenced the voting.
Interesting to see a political statement in a snowplow naming contest. I wonder how the public reacted to this – was it seen as an appropriate use of the platform or as politicizing a civic event?
From the article, it seems the city took the result in stride, noting the public’s creativity and civic pride. But you raise a good point about potential controversy.
This seems like an interesting case study in how local politics can spill over into seemingly non-political civic events. I wonder if we’ll see similar political messaging in other city infrastructure naming contests going forward.
Naming a snowplow ‘Stephen Coldbert’ is a clever play on words. Kudos to the voters for their sense of humor and civic engagement, even if the political message is more divisive.