NAMING YOUR STREET

The Procedure

People who live on a particular street will name it. To provide structure to the process, we are using the following procedure:

1. Although less than a third of our streets have official names, there are many that have traditional or commonly used names. To determine which streets are applicable, our first task is to canvas neighborhood residents, speak with knowledgeable residents, and tour with senior público drivers.
2. Based upon the results of the survey, our advisory committee will make recommendations for possible themes and/or actual street names. Our public commitment is that all names proposed by the group of project advisors will be within the context of Vieques’ ecology, history, culture, and traditions; and we will encourage residents of every street to do the same.
3. Volunteers will visit the residents of the neighborhoods to solicit feedback on the suggestions and obtain recommendations on names and themes.
4. Responses will be collected verbally (with appropriate social distancing and masks) and/or written questionnaires may be left at each house to be completed. Responses can be texted, emailed, or physically deposited in drop boxes nearby.
5. Staff will compile the results and create a ranked choice ballot with all of the names suggested for each street and deliver one per house.
6. Again, responses will be collected verbally, texted, physically deposited in drop boxes nearby, and images can be emailed.
7. Winning names will be submitted to the municipality for approval.
8. Upon final approval, all will be notified of their full street addresses. Maps will be updated and uploaded to online services, and street signs will be ordered. With the aid of the Department of Public Works, volunteers will install the sign posts in a concrete footing and attach the signs.

The Guidelines

Names suggested should be made in the following context:

1. Our community is unique, and names should be related to who we are, where we are, and where we come from;
2. Shorter names are better than longer ones (How often are you required to write it in a small space?) – 19 characters (including spaces) is the limit for a 36” sign;
3. Exceptions to naming within a vote winning theme is the choice of those living on a specific street;
4. Longer streets traversing through multiple neighborhoods should have a single, agreed upon name, unless there are obvious transition points or strong opposing feelings among the street residents;
5. No offensive, political, or otherwise controversial names will be accepted; and
6. Naming is a democratic process – a 51% majority of the residents on a street rule.

The Option of Naming Themes

The use of themes in the naming of streets is common throughout the world, the US, and Puerto Rico. Even in Vieques, 49 out of the 85 officially named streets are part of four unique themes. The practice gives a unifying identity to neighborhoods, and on a larger scale, to metropolitan cities. When the themes are logical and well known, address locations are predictable and navigation much easier.

The variety of options for themes is nearly infinite. While not required, the following lists examples of topics for themes for the purpose of stimulating conversation and imagination in selecting a theme – if your neighborhood is in favor of the concept: