Rename Pennsylvania Avenue? What is D.C. thinking?

Pennsylvanians might take a little offense at a proposal being floated by a Washington, D.C., councilman.

He wants an alternative name for famed Pennsylvania Avenue, home to the White House and the Capitol Building.

Michael Brown freely admits the idea is a stunt to raise publicity for the district's desire for statehood - or at least representation in Congress.

The new name, though, wouldn't replace Pennsylvania, but simply add a ceremonial designation under current signs.

Philadelphia, for example, has ceremonial signs declaring a stretch of South Broad Street "Avenue of the Arts."

A poll set up by Brown asks voters to choose among a half-dozen ideas: 51st State Way. Free D.C. Avenue. Let D.C. Vote Way. D.C. Statehood Way. Give D.C. Full Democracy Way. Give D.C. Full Democracy & Statehood Way.

That last one, especially, is "a little bit of a mouthful" and might not fit on a sign, even with an ampersand, said Amy Bellanca, Brown's chief of staff.

But the point is made that the 600,000 residents of the nation's capital deserve the same rights and representation that other Americans have, she said.

"We selected Pennsylvania Avenue, because it is one of the most visible, high-profile streets in the city," she said. " ... If our goal is to bring attention to the issue, that was an ideal place to do it."

Ignored were some suggestions from commenters at the blog DCist (www.dcist.com).

For example:

Tilting at Windmills Avenue.

My Forefathers Created the First Representative Democracy in the World But All I Got Was this Lousy Street Name Avenue.

Give Us Statehood Please or Else We'll Keep Complaining About It Street.

 Brown's survey (www.surveymonkey.com/s/Streetsign) also asks if Constitution and Independence Avenues - two more streets with Philadelphia connections - should also have the alternative name or different ones.

Then there's a suggestion to change signs on the outskirts of the city to, for example, "Welcome to Washington: Denied full democracy for over 200 years and counting."

A resolution to make institute such changes could be introduced in a few weeks, Bellanca said.