Street Co-naming Process for Council Member Phil Wong

The New York City Council typically considers street co-naming’s twice per year during its Spring and Fall legislative sessions. To ensure your request can be reviewed in time for an upcoming cycle, please complete the following steps as early as possible.

Step 1: Gather Petitions from Residents

Begin by collecting petitions from the homeowners and residents who live on the block where the co-naming is being requested. Strong support from those who reside directly on the street is essential and should be clearly documented. Petitions should include each signer’s name, address on the block in question, and contact information.​

Step 2: Present the Request to the Community Board:

Next, attend your local Community Board meeting and ask that your street co-naming request be placed on the agenda, referred to the Transportation Committee, and then voted on by the full Community Board. The goal is to secure a formal vote and a letter of recommendation or resolution from the Community Board in support of your proposal, which will be included with your application to our office.​

Step 3: Seek Support from Civic and Block Associations:

To further bolster your request, reach out to local civic associations and/or block associations serving the area and ask them to issue letters of recommendation for the proposed co-naming. These letters should describe the honoree’s contributions and the importance of the location, and indicate that the organization supports the co-naming.​

Step 4: Submit Materials to Council Member Phil Wong’s Office:

Once you have gathered petitions, Community Board support, and any civic or block association letters, contact Council Member Phil Wong’s office to formally submit your co-naming request.

Your submission should include:

• Copies of petitions from residents on the affected block
• The Community Board’s letter of recommendation or resolution
• Letters of recommendation from local civic and/or block associations
• A brief written statement explaining why the honoree and this specific street location were chosen
• A short biography of the honoree, including dates of birth and death
• A statement indicating that the honoree’s family has been informed and consulted
• A proposed street sign name, not exceeding 36 characters including spaces, consistent with DOT requirements (example: John A. Doe Way; Patrolman John A. Doe Way; Firefighter John A. Doe Way

Step 5: City Council Review and Vote:

Upon submission of the application to the Parks and Recreation Committee of the New York City Council by the Office of Council Member Phil Wong, the request will be scheduled for formal review and a committee vote, barring any unforeseen circumstances or delays. Once voted out of committee, the co-naming will proceed to the full City Council for a final vote, after which, if approved, it will be enacted into law and the implementation and ceremony planning process will begin.

After the street naming is approved, Council Member Wong’s office will contact the applicants to coordinate the unveiling ceremony and will need at least 30 business days’ notice so that the Department of Transportation can fabricate and install the sign.

Each approved street naming includes an additional commemorative sign, with blue signs for police officers who died in the line of duty, red signs for FDNY members who died in the line of duty or due to illness, and green signs for all other honorees, and the office can also provide a City Council proclamation.