Alex Strada's Public Address transforms NYC street signs into unhoused testimony across boroughs

The Public Address initiative by Alex Strada transforms municipal street signs into platforms for handwritten insights from both shelter residents and staff, thereby questioning the city's visual communication. Launched in October 2025 at Lt. Petrosino Square in Manhattan, the project later relocated to Columbus Park in Brooklyn. Coordinated by Storefront for Art and Architecture alongside four city agencies, it utilizes repurposed aluminum signs sourced from the Department of Transportation's Sign Shop. Since becoming Public Artist in Residence in 2022, Strada has led workshops in shelters, gathering over 300 submissions. One notable sign from April 11, 2025, includes Spanish text contributed by Roxy from Ecuador. The initiative aims to reach all five boroughs, placing signs on lampposts throughout each community district, as Strada highlighted the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat record-high homelessness.