Blog on Street Sign Idea-Seal

7/30/07
Brad Seal
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I got my idea for a story about missing street signs in an obvious way...I don't have a street sign in front of my apartment. At first it was an annoyance as I drove right by my street multiple time because it wasn't marked and many surrounding streets weren't marked either. Then I had to talk my friends to my apartment using markers like a drug store, an old tree, and flower pots. These directions were completely useless at night when it was dark outside and I usually received a frustrated call from a buddy who had driven right by my residence and was now a mile away.

I then wondered to myself about what might happen in an emergency situation. What if I needed someone to get to my house in a hurry like a firefighter or a police officer? Would I die because they were wandering around the area? I know they probably knew the area pretty well, but what if it was a new recruit? What if they were distracted and didn't realize they missed my street because there was no sign to remind them?

I decided to find a reason why I had no street sign in front of my house. I called City Hall and spoke the media department. They assured me that I would receive a call from someone very soon. A few days passed and I figured everyone in the media department was exchanging jokes and high-fives about the idiot who called expecting to speak to a representative about street-signs.

I finally got a call from Jeff Wright who was the Commissioner of Public Works for the city of Syracuse. I didn't even know a Public Works department existed, but drove over to meet Mr. Wright and found him to be very engaging. Mr. Wright informed me that he too was frustrated by all of the missing street signs and that my fellow Syracuse students were chiefly responsible for the disappearance. He seemed very intersted in getting the story out and even offered me a television interview if I was so inclined. I was not. At least not yet.