A number of Grand Rapids residents who live on Umatilla Street say the city should not name it after Amillier Penn, a teenager fatally shot on the stretch of road more than a year ago.
On Tuesday, the Grand Rapids City Commission held a public hearing on the commemorative designation, which would not change the mailing addresses of those living on Umatilla Street between Madison and Union Avenues, but rather be marked by a differently colored street sign.
“You guys are going to open up a can of worms you can’t close,” said one resident. “If you keep naming different streets after kids who pass, that is not fair to start if you’re not going to finish.”…