Liberal lawmakers of a city in Michigan spent thousands of taxpayers' dollars to rip out neighborhood watch signs after labeling them racist.
Ann Arbor officials posted a video on Wednesday of the last of 600 signs being torn down as they explained how they want the city to be a place of inclusivity.
'Frankly, neighborhood watch signs are expressions of exclusion, and they're inconsistent with our values,' said Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor.
'Ann Arbor is a welcoming community, we don't want to push people away, we want to welcome folks in.'
The signs were removed after a unanimous 10-0 vote in December, followed by a January decision to allocate $18,000 to complete the project, according to MLive and The Midwesterner.
Officials said the money was taken from the city's cash reserves instead of street funding because the signs are not related to traffic.
The city added that it considered using police funds as well, but there was not enough space in its budget, the outlet reported.
'The Neighborhood Watch program, which emerged in the 1970s during a period of national anxiety about crime and social change, is defunct, and research shows such signage does not reduce crime and can reinforce biased surveillance,' officials wrote.
Ann Arbor, Michigan removed 600 neighborhood watch signs after labeling them racist (Pictured: Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor)
Mayor Christopher Taylor removed the last sign with council members Cynthia Harrison and Jen Eyer after spending $18,000 on the project
'Frankly, neighborhood watch signs are expressions of exclusion, and they're inconsistent with our values,' the mayor said
The crime rate in Ann Arbor is 28.76 per 1,000 residents per year, marginally higher than the figure for Michigan as a whole, according to Crime Grade.
Despite the signs being removed the mayor told Michigan Daily that locals can still participate in crime oversight through the Ann Arbor Independent Community Police Oversight Commission [AAICPOC].
AAICPOC was established to 'reframe' the relationship between the community and law enforcement, according to the city.
WEMU noted that the city has not had an active neighborhood watch program in years.
Council member Cynthia Harrison said in the video that there are residents in Ann Arbor who have been targeted: 'There are people that look like me and those from my community that have been questioned in their own neighborhood by others wondering what they're doing there.'
'This is just representative of our values and how we want people to feel in Ann Arbor.'
Taylor added that locals can still participate in crime oversight through the Ann Arbor Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
However, the city may not have received the reaction they expected, as hundreds of comments mocked the official's efforts.
One user wrote: 'Absolute joke. Imagine getting rid of signs that spread awareness and safety for neighborhoods… had nothing to do with race till someone decided it did.'
Another added: 'Love Ann Arbor so so so much but come on let's fix the potholes and focus on getting Ann Arbor teachers a fair contract.'
A third wrote: 'Believing the signs are the problem is so on brand.'
The Daily Mail reached out to Mayor Taylor for comment.