Of the 300 Medallions installed on the Avenue of the Americas in 1959, displaying the coat of arms of the all the nations of the Western Hemisphere, only 18 of them remain, including some that still have more than one Medallion. Only 14 countries are still represented. The rest have been vanished by negligence!

They were meant to illustrate New York City’s “love an affection . . . for our sister republics of Central and South America." They have been a huge source of ethnic pride for Hispanics and other Caribbean people who live in New York City, and for many others who visit the city as tourists and saw those Medallions as welcome signs! The Medallions also represented the United States, Canada, and all the English and French-speaking countries of the Americas.

Yet 34 countries are no longer represented with Medallions there, including the United States, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and El Salvador and others. That’s some of the biggest Hispanic groups in the city!

Hispanics alone now represent 28.3 percent of the city’s population. That’s 2.49 million people, more than ever before! And yet the few Medallions that still represent us are covered with streaks of rust. They have been allowed to become pictures of neglect.

We sign this petition because we refuse to allow these colorful, porcelain enamel medallions, these wonderful recognition of our presence in this city and country, to vanish into oblivion! It’s unacceptable! We want to go to the Avenue of the Americas and be able to look up with pride once again!

We strongly believe the city could coordinate a special effort to fund the restoration of the 300 Medallions, by seeking donations from the merchants and corporations based on the Avenue, and from the nations that would be represented by restored Medallions there.

We recognize that the city has a new administration and that, while the current officials should not be blamed for the negligence of the past, the negligence of the future would be on their watch!

We hereby petition New York City government officials, starting with Mayor Eric Adams and his Hispanic Transportation Commissioner Ydalis Rodriguez, to take the lead in coordinating a campaign to “Save the Medallions on the Avenue of the Americas.”

We hereby petition all New York City and State Hispanic and Caribbean elected officials to let the city know that they represent constituents who care about this issue.

And we hereby petition the UN diplomats whose countries would be represented by the Medallions, and the many corporations and merchants who would be interested in beautifying what they call “America’s Corporate Corridor” to support this cause.

We hereby respectfully suggest that you hear and heed our call to “Save the Medallions on the Avenue of the Americas.”