Local Man Cannot Accept That His Street Has Been Renamed, Continues Using Old Name on All Correspondence

Retired mailman Gerald Postmark, 71, has refused to acknowledge that his street of 42 years was renamed from Pleasant Street to Innovation Parkway in 2023, continuing to use the original name on all correspondence, tax filings, and the hand-painted sign at the end of his driveway. 'It's Pleasant Street,' Postmark said, standing beside the official green sign that reads 'Innovation Parkway.' 'It was Pleasant Street when I moved here in 1982. It was Pleasant Street when my children were born. It will be Pleasant Street when I die. The city council can rename it whatever they want. I will not comply.' The renaming was part of a municipal rebranding initiative that changed the names of twelve streets in the city's newly designated 'Innovation District,' converting familiar names like Elm Street, Oak Avenue, and Pleasant Street to 'Synergy Boulevard,' 'Disruption Way,' and 'Innovation Parkway.' 'They renamed Elm Street to Synergy Boulevard,' Postmark said. 'Synergy Boulevard. For a street with a barbershop, a dry cleaner, and a dentist. That's not synergy. That's Tuesday.' The U.S. Postal Service has been delivering Postmark's mail to both addresses for three years. His postal carrier, who is aware of the situation, manually redirects any correspondence addressed to 47 Pleasant Street to the physical address at 47 Innovation Parkway. 'It's easier than arguing with him,' said the carrier. 'He was a mailman for 35 years. He knows exactly how the addressing system works. He's not confused. He's protesting.' Postmark's hand-painted sign, which reads '47 Pleasant Street — Est. 1982 — The Only Name That Matters,' has been cited by the city as a code violation. Postmark has contested the citation, arguing that 'the sign accurately reflects the historical name of the property' and that 'the city cannot retroactively erase 40 years of pleasant.' The city has decided not to pursue enforcement. 'Picking a fight with a retired mailman about street names is not how we want to spend our legal budget,' said the city attorney.