Adopt A
The Adopt-a-Highway program, also known as Sponsor-a-Highway (but see distinction below) is a promotional campaign undertaken by U.S. states, Provinces and Territories of Canada and national governments outside North America to encourage volunteers to keep a section of a highway free from litter. In exchange for regular litter removal an organization (such as Cub Scouts, or Knights of Columbus, for example) is allowed to have their name posted on a sign in the section of the highways they maintain.
The program originated in the 1980s when James Evans, an engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation, saw debris flying out of a pickup truck bed. Litter cleanup by the city was expensive, so Evans sought the help of local groups to sponsor the cleaning of sections of the highway. The efforts of Billy Black, a public information officer led to quarterly cleanup cycles, volunteer safety training, the issuing of reflective vests and equipment, and the posting of adopt-a-highway signs.
In 1985, the Tyler Civitan Club became the first group to volunteer, adopting two miles along US Route 69 just north of Loop 323 between Tyler and Interstate 20. The program proved to be very successful and has since spread to 49 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.
Some states, such as Nevada, allow both Adopt-a-Highway and Sponsor-a-Highway programs. In both programs, an organization that contributes to the cleanup is allowed to post its name. However, while an adopting organization provides the volunteers who do the litter pickup, a sponsoring organization instead pays professional contractors to do the work. Because of safety concerns, the latter is more typical in highways with high traffic volumes.
Controversies
The Adopt-A-Highway program allows any organization to participate, which became a point of controversy when the Ku Klux Klan adopted a portion of Interstate 55 just south of St. Louis, Missouri. While legally the organization had to uphold the groups' rights to participate in the program, the public outcry and repeated destruction of their sign was a cause of concern. In November 2000, the section of highway was designated as the Rosa Parks Freeway , named after the famed civil-rights heroine.
KKK sponsorship was later dropped from the program for its inability to fulfill its obligations under the program, and the Missouri Department of Transportation adopted specific criteria to prohibit hate groups from future participation.
The United States Supreme Court ruled that any attempt to bar the Klan from participation in the Adopt-a-Highway program on the basis of the group's purpose is a violation of the First Amendment.
In January 2005, the American Nazi Party adopted a stretch of the rural Sunnyview Road NE outside Salem, Oregon. Two signs were put up along the road that bore the names of the American Nazi Party and NSM. The signs, which cost $500 of taxpayer's money and were almost immediately subject to vandalism, have since been removed. The American Nazi Party's chair, Rocky J. Suhayda, claimed to have no association with the Adopt a Highway program.
In 2009, the state of Missouri is renaming a section of highway after a Rabbi because it had been adopted by a neo-nazi group, like in 2000 it named a section of highway after a famous African American because the KKK had an Adopt-a-Highway sign on that road.
In Popular Culture
- In the hit U.S. sitcom Seinfeld episode The Pothole, the character Cosmo Kramer adopts a mile of the fictional Arthur Berkhardt Expressway.
- The MU330 song "KKK Hiway" is about the Ku Klux Klan's attempt to sponsor Interstate 55 in lead singer Dan Potthast's hometown of St. Louis ("a few miles away from mom's house").
References
- Texas Adopt-a-Highway history from the Texas Department of Transportation Web site
- Public Litter Removal Programs from the Nevada Department of Transportation Web site
- Adopt a Highway from the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation Web site
- United States Attorneys Hate Crimes Task Force Web Site
- Urban Legends Reference Pages: the Name Game
- LA Car- Your Friendly Nazi Party Adopts a Highway?
- Adopt a Highway Program - Adopt a Highway Web Site.
- Adopt-a-Highway - Adopt a Highway corporation Web site.
-
^
Cooper, M. 2009.
Neo-Nazis’ Road Adoption Spurs Action:
National Adoption Center: Adopt a Child
The National Adoption Center is a valuable resource for current and prospective families looking to adopt a child.
FooPets - Real Virtual Pets - Adopt a FooPet Today!
FooPets are the world's cutest and most realistic virtual pets. Adopt your own 3D interactive puppy or kitten today, free of cost!
Adopt Page - North Shore Animal League
North Shore Animal League America is the largest no-kill animal adoption and rescue organization in the world. Located in Long Island, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas ...
Adopt » New Rochelle Humane Society: Dog and Cat Adoptions
Located in Westchester NY, the New Rochelle Humane Society offers safe refuge, medical care, and adoption of hundreds of dogs and cats each year.
Who Can Adopt: Are You Eligible to Adopt?
Learn the rules and regulations to find out if you are eligible to adopt a child.
Dogs | Adopt a Pet
"Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace." Albert Schweitzer, The Philosophy of Civilisation. pets-AT-adopt-a-pet.org.za ...
Adopt a Child Adoption - Adopt.com
Please note that re-adoption and naturalization are two separate processes. If the child is fully adopted overseas, there ...
About Adopt a Pet | Adopt a Pet
ADOPT-A-PET is a privately run animal rights' rescue, rehabilitation and adoption organisation for dogs and cats. It is proud to be part of the "no-kill" movement which is gaining ...
Adopt Synonym | Synonym of Adopt and Antonym of Adopt at Thesaurus.com ...
Find Synonym of adopt and Antonym of adopt at Thesaurus.com, Synonym, Synonyms, Thesaurus, Synonym Dictionary, Synonyms Dictionary, Antonym, Antonyms, Antonym Dictionary, Antonyms ...
Adopt | Definition of Adopt at Dictionary.com:
Copy & paste this link to your blog or website to reference this page