New signage installed in Kingston, New York, has sparked widespread public backlash, with residents calling the designs “bland,” “ugly,” “soulless,” and “sterile slop.” The signs, created by Pennsylvania-based firm MERJE and fabricated by New Jersey’s Forge Signworks, cost about $425,000 in federal ARPA funding. Locals have criticized the corporate aesthetic, compared it to a KIND bar wrapper, and noted misspellings such as “Uster” instead of “Ulster.” One resident, 76-year-old Sharon Boyd, chained herself to a historic wooden sign in protest. Kingston Mayor Steve Noble defended the project, saying the funds were not taxpayer money and that change can be difficult.
This controversy matters because it highlights tensions between municipal branding efforts and community identity, especially in a city with a robust arts scene and nearly 400 years of history. The backlash reflects broader frustrations about public spending priorities—such as water quality and housing—versus aesthetic upgrades. It also raises questions about outsourcing local design work and the role of public participation in shaping civic spaces.