Story perspectives

Chicago Snowplow Contest Names: Creative Winners Announced!

2/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation announced the winning names for the fourth annual You Name a Snowplow contest: Abolish ICE, Stephen Coldbert, Pope Frío XIV, The Blizzard of Oz, Svencoolie, Caleb Chilliams.
The contest drew 13,300 submissions and 39,000 votes.
Mayor Brandon Johnson praised Chicagoans for their creativity and noted that proposers will receive a photo with their snowplows, which join a fleet maintaining over 9,400 lane miles.

History

Historical Context

Chicago's 2023 You Name a Snowplow contest, which garnered 13,300 submissions, echoes the civic engagement seen in the 1960s during grassroots movements led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and the NAACP. Mayor Brandon Johnson's recognition of this creativity highlights a continued effort to strengthen community ties and participatory governance, fostering a vibrant local identity.

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Story summary

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation announced the winning names for the fourth annual You Name a Snowplow contest: Abolish ICE, Stephen Coldbert, Pope Frío XIV, The Blizzard of Oz, Svencoolie, Caleb Chilliams.
The contest drew 13,300 submissions and 39,000 votes.
Mayor Brandon Johnson praised Chicagoans for their creativity and noted that proposers will receive a photo with their snowplows, which join a fleet maintaining over 9,400 lane miles.

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