LA County seeks feedback to rename streets and locations honoring César E. Chávez

After the shocking news of several women accusing farmworker activist César E. Chávez of sexual misconduct, states across the country have removed monuments and recognitions he received throughout the years.

In Los Angeles County launched a survey asking people to provide their input on renaming parks, streets, facilities, real property, monuments, civic artwork and other county programs that bear the activist’s name. 

The survey is available until Sunday, July 26.

Chávez was a leader fighting for the rights of farmworkers and died in 1993. His numerous recognitions in the nation included the Medal of Freedom posthumously awarded in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, a national monument established by President Barack Obama in Keene, California and a U.S. postage stamp. 

In California, there are at least 65 parks, schools, streets, monuments and other locations named after Chávez, according to an analysis by The California Newsroom. 

Right after the New York Times published reporting detailing the alleged sexual abuse, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors presented a motion to rename the César E. Chávez holiday to Farmworkers Day and move it from March 31, Chávez's birthday, to the last Monday in March.

Now, they are in the process of renaming several locations that bear his name. 

While some of these changes haven’t been official, some are already visible online, at least.

For example, when driving on the 101 Fwy, close to Downtown Los Angeles, the César E. Chávez Avenue exit shows up as Pleasant Avenue on Google Maps, which is a small street that connects to the main avenue. 

Avianna Uribe, manager at the Chief Executive Office of L.A. County, said she hadn’t noticed the changes on the maps and it may be because the avenue runs from the City of L.A. through unincorporated Los Angeles and a part of Monterey Park, which showed interest in the process in collecting feedback to rename the avenue.

Feedback is important

Uribe said it is very important to hear from the community regarding this matter since it’s a process that will take time and they want to do it as inclusively as possible. 

“We want… as many people in L.A. County to complete the survey,” she said. “That survey is critical because we need the community's feedback about what their thoughts and feelings are on this change.”

After the survey closes and based on the input, there will be a series of listening sessions to gather additional feedback and to inform the board of any recommendations that are developed before any changes are made. 

Uribe said the listening sessions will be especially helpful for people who are not tech-savvy but want to provide their input in person. 

“Hopefully by fall we'll have some sort of next steps or recommendations for the board to take action for the board of supervisors to take action,” Uribe said. 

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, one of the co-authors of the motions to remove Chávez’s name, said she was pleased to see the community engaged in this process moving forward. 

“I believe decisions about County assets, programs and public spaces must reflect the voices and values of the communities we serve,” she said. “This survey is an important first step in gathering public input, but the work continues beyond this initial effort. A transparent and inclusive process with meaningful opportunities for residents, community leaders and stakeholders to participate will help shape the path forward.” 

After doing a comprehensive review of assets, Uribe said the majority of Chávez references they found were street signs, civic art installations and more at the Department of Arts and Culture. She said no schools were identified in this review.