DC Statehood Advocates Propose New Address for White House
Published at
iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Obamas might have to reprint a lot of expensive stationary if several members of the Washington, D.C., City Council get their way.
The council, in an effort to push the issue of D.C. statehood, is looking to rename 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and if the measure passes, the president’s new address would be located on “D.C. Statehood Now Boulevard.”
But don’t hold your breath.
“The 1500 and 1600 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue NW — I have proposed to be renamed to ‘D.C. Statehood Now Boulevard,” Councilmember Yvette Alexander told ABC News.
The proposal was changed from its original name of “D.C. Statehood Now Way,” to avoid confusion with the phrase “D.C. Statehood No Way,” Alexander said.
Alexander acknowledged that her proposal was largely symbolic in nature.
“Naturally the Pennsylvania Avenue sign still stays there — it’s a symbolic measure. However, we can put the sign atop of the Pennsylvania Avenue sign, so it will be marked ‘D.C. Statehood Now Boulevard,’” Alexander said.
“Even though this is a symbolic measure, it’s still another step in the right direction because so many citizens across the nation are still not aware of our plight in the District of Columbia,” Alexander added. “And we have to just be very vocal about it and use everything possible to get the attention of our nation.”
The District of Columbia lacks voting rights in both the House of Representative and the U.S. Senate, despite having a larger population than both Vermont and Wyoming.
The proposal would be subject to the approval of the Council of the District of Columbia — and ultimately Congress. Alexander said she is expecting the support of Eleanor Holmes, the District of Columbia’s non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives.
In a written statement to ABC News, Holmes said, “Thank you, Councilmember Alexander and D.C. Council, for using your street-naming power to empower D.C.”
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio