Dean Baker: Put numbers on curbs

The business sign police, or the building permit people and the fire department could be put to some useful work with little or no cost by insisting properties have address numbers visibly posted from the street – especially those big out-of-town corporate businesses. In some parts of town I can drive for blocks without seeing address numbers. Often you get to a block where every business has the same number and no reference point for a dozen small offices or stores.

The other big annoyance is to drive a mile or so and the street name changes and then changes again. Every contractor who comes along wants his name on the street, requiring another name change. There is an existing address system, usually taught in third grade, concerning odd and even address numbers. This project could be a viable, efficient “economic stimulus project.”

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Dean Baker: Put numbers on curbs."