If the signs are real, I’d say having them in English is done to increase despair in the citizenry.
Here in LA in SoCal, there are massive amounts of graffiti, the freeway embankments have been allowed to wither and die, filthy and cluttered homeless “encampments” are everywhere, and trash is ubiquitous. Urban decay assaults the five senses.
I believe it is all done to increase our discouragement and break those who remember a better, more orderly life... in addition to stealing the money allotted for those public services.