Petition To Rename Trump's Block After Obama Nets 125K Signatures

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A petition to rename the block that houses Trump Tower after President Barack Obama has been signed by more than 125,000 people, even though the name change is prohibited by New York City laws.

The petition, started in October 2018 but just recently surging in popularity, asks New York City officials to rename Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets to "President Barack H. Obama Avenue." All buildings on the street would adopt the new street name, making Trump Tower's new address 725 President Barack H. Obama Ave., according to the petition.

Petition creator Elizabeth Rowin told Newsweek that her idea was inspired by a joke she heard at a comedy show. Rowin told the publication that letters written to various New York City officials were met with positive responses.

But New York City street naming rules could get in the way. Streets can only be named in a person's honor after they are dead, and President Obama is still kicking at the ripe age of 58. Street renaming requests must also show proof that nobody on the block objects, and it's hard to imagine Trump signing off on naming his block after his predecessor.

But the rules aren't affecting Rowin's confidence in the petition, which has already smashed its goal of 75,000 signatures.

"I am sure the conditions can be changed, there are two streets in LA named after former President Obama. These laws are arbitrary and can be worked around," Rowin told Newsweek.

Read the full Newsweek article here.