ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The city of Ann Arbor is going to remove 600 Neighborhood Watch signs, saying its no longer active and it sends the wrong message to minorities.

Ann Arbor City Councilmember Jen Eyer said a resident approached her and asked that the signs be removed. Eyer said she checked with city staff and they agreed.

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“These signs come from a different era. The program they reference is no longer active, the hotline no longer functions, and the signs aren’t connected to any current public safety strategy. Yet they remain posted in our neighborhoods, continuing to send a message that no longer reflects our values or our practices,” Eyer said in a Facebook post. “Many of us, myself included, probably don’t even consciously notice these signs anymore. They’ve become part of the background. But for other residents and for visitors to our city, particularly people of color, they are still very visible, and the message they send is one of suspicion.”

Eyer continued: “At its core, this resolution is about making sure our neighborhoods communicate belonging rather than suspicion, and that our public spaces reflect the kind of community we strive to be.”

State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, (R-Porter Township), questioned the policy.

“Ann Arbor is removing ‘Neighborhood Crime Watch’ signs so they can be more ‘welcoming and inclusive.’ Who does this make the community more ‘welcoming’ for other than criminals?” Nesbitt posted on X.

 

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