Chicago's beloved annual snowplow-naming contest got a distinctly political edge this year, with "Abolish ICE" topping the list of six winning names - drawing both cheers and criticism in a city that has been a flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Streets and Sanitation announced the six winning names Monday for the city's fourth annual "You Name a Snowplow" contest, drawing from a record 13,300 name entries and 39,000 voters - the highest participation since the contest began.
The six winning names, each of which will be displayed on a dedicated plow in one of the city's six snow districts, are: Abolish ICE, Stephen Coldbert, Pope Frío XIV, The Blizzard of Oz, Svencoolie, and Caleb Chilliams.
The names are a mix of local pride and national commentary. "Pope Frío XIV" is a playful nod to Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV, while "Stephen Coldbert" pays tribute to CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, who honed his comedic skills at the city's iconic Second City theater. "Caleb Chilliams" honors Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and "Svencoolie" celebrates beloved local horror host Rich Koz and his long-running television program.
"Abolish ICE" was by far the dominant force in submissions. Anti-ICE names made up nearly 80% of all entries, with "Abolish ICE" alone accounting for roughly 70% of submissions. The name carries a double meaning — a literal reference to what snowplows do, and a pointed political statement aimed at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has conducted aggressive enforcement operations in the Chicago area in recent months.
Mayor Johnson himself endorsed the name in December, writing on X, "'Abolish ICE' has my full endorsement for the name of one of Chicago's next Snow Plows."
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, pushed back Monday. Lauren Bis, a DHS deputy assistant secretary, said in a statement that "attacks and demonization of ICE is wrong," adding that instead of targeting federal officers, city officials "should be thanking our officers for taking public safety threats off the streets."
"Chance the Scraper" - a nod to Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper — received an honorable mention after finishing just 0.24 percentage points outside the top six. Residents who first submitted the winning names will be invited to take photos with their named snowplows in the coming weeks and will receive city merchandise.
Each named plow will join a fleet of more than 300 salt spreaders responsible for maintaining 9,400 lane miles during winter storms. Chicagoans can monitor the plows in real time using the city's online plow tracker at Chicagoshovels.org.
"I want to thank the people of Chicago for their unmatched creativity, sense of humor, and civic pride," Mayor Johnson said in a statement. "We are grateful and inspired by the record-breaking participation in the contest this year."
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