A street in northwest Santa Maria will get a new name amid allegations recently revealed about farmworker labor leader Cesar Chavez, but a decision on the new moniker is pending.
On Tuesday night, the Santa Maria City Council voted 4-0 to adopt a resolution declaring an intent to rename Cesar E. Chavez Drive and directed staff to return with recommended replacement names.
“I appreciate this being brought forward,” Councilwoman Gloria Soto said.
The street is adjacent to Tommie Kunst Junior High School (officially on Hidden Pines Way).
Cesar E. Chavez Drive stretches for three blocks and has 59 homes using the street name in their addresses.
Named for the farmworker labor leader, the street name reconsideration follows recent allegations about Chavez.
“The proposed action may be viewed by community members as a necessary response to serious recent allegations that have altered public perception about Cesar Chavez,” Assistant City Manager Chuen Wu said.
“At the same time, the matter may be sensitive for residents who continue to associate Chavez’s name with the farmworker movement and broader civil rights history.”
Mayor Alice Patino said the residents living on the street may have a preference and should be consulted about the options for a new name.
Soto agreed, adding that the school and community members also may want to weigh in on the new name.
In addition to offering the options, staff presented a list of names of local residents who were casualties in the Vietnam War and more recent conflicts. The list typically is provided to developers as options for possible new street names.
Renaming a street will impact the property owners, emergency services and U.S. Postal Service and mapping systems, requiring coordination to avoid glitches, Wu said.
Staff intends to put together an outreach and implementation plan on the renaming effort.
The Guadalupe City Council is expected to consider the future of Calle Cesar E. Chavez during an upcoming meeting.
Guadalupe’s Calle Cesar E. Chavez sits on the western side of the city.
Santa Barbara also has launched an effort to select a new name for the city street named Calle Cesar Chavez.