Three new name options have been proposed to replace the Santa Barbara street name, Calle Cesar Chavez.

The street could be renamed to Calle Si Se Puede, Calle Dolores Huerta or another name recommended by the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation.

The Santa Barbara Neighborhood Advisory Council, which is made up of residents from various neighborhoods in the city, recommended on Monday that the three options go to the City Council.

The naming recommendation to be made by the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation will be submitted for consideration at a later time.

The advisory group’s final recommendation came after five different motions were made over the course of deliberations, according to Barbara Anderson, senior assistant to the city administrator. 

The Santa Barbara City Council initiated the renaming process in March after a bombshell New York Times investigation alleged that Cesar Chávez, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, had a history of sexually abusing young women involved with the movement. 

The association is an organization he co-founded with Dolores Huerta, who also recently spoke about being sexually abused by Chávez.

The investigation shocked local and state leaders and prompted them to call for a renaming of César Chávez Day and street names.

In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law changing the March holiday to Farmworkers Day.

For Santa Barbara to officially rename Calle Cesar Chavez, it goes through a process, with the latest stop in front of the advisory body. 

The Monday meeting was meant to gather input from community members and affected residents, as an initial assessment by the Public Works Department found that 86 business and property addresses would be impacted, according to the city report.

The name change process would also cost approximately $1,500 to replace street signs, according to the city. 

Local Chicano historian Michael Montenegro gave the council a presentation on the history of the street name and neighborhood.

The street name was previously named Salsipuedes Street which loosely translates to “get out if you can” before being changed to Calle Cesar Chavez in 1997, four years after Chávez’s death, Montenegro said.

He added that Salsipuedes Street was one of a handful of other streets that used to be a salt marsh wetland.

He also suggested potentially renaming the street to honor local leaders such as Ross Castro, Louie Urzua and Raquel Vela Mendoza who marched and organized with Chávez. 

“I am about honoring our local leaders who are here on a day to day basis and giving back to our community,” he said. 

He also was in support of naming the street to Si Se Puede Street or using a Chumash word.

Teri Jory, a committee member with the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County, suggested Dolores Huerta Way as a new street name. 

“It recognizes one of the most consequential labor leaders in American history in her own terms, in her own empowering way,” she said. 

However, some business owners are opposed to renaming the street, citing concerns about the price to do so, KEYT reported.

The Santa Barbara City Council will consider the recommendations at a future meeting.