Despite a city survey showing overwhelming support for changing the name of César E. Chávez Boulevard back to its original moniker of Durango Street, people at a Wednesday community forum had plenty of other names to suggest.
During the meeting at West Side tavern Jaime’s Place, Jose Angel Idar proposed naming the downtown thoroughfare after his great aunt, Jovita Idar, a Tejano civil rights leader and journalist from Laredo.
Meanwhile, Ernest Martinez, whose father was a United Farm Workers activist, said the road should be renamed Campesina Way. Campesina is the female conjugation of “peasant” or “farmer” in Spanish.
“When you think about the farm worker, think about what they do,” Martinez told the Current. “They feed a nation. But the feminine conjugation also speaks to the women.”
Others, including Juan Rivera, an AP Government teacher and West Side native, suggested the street could be renamed after Maria L. de Hernández, a Mexican-American civil rights activist with San Antonio ties.
“Though she’s not a native to the West Side, she made the West Side her home,” Rivera said. “She became a voice for a lot of West Siders, an advocate. She has a crazy history.”
District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo called on the city to change the name of César E. Chávez Boulevard after last month’s New York Times report alleging the iconic civil-rights leader was a sexual predator who victimized women and girls.
In an online survey between March 23 and April 2, 66% of the 18,000 San Antonio residents said they want the downtown street to go back to its original name of Durango, city officials said Tuesday.
City Council changed Durago Street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard in 2011 amid support from many in the community but also faced pushback from residents and business owners who worried about the expense and confusion.
Of the people now living on the five-and-a-half-mile-long thoroughfare, 79% said they wanted to go back to the Durango name.
Even so, councilwoman Castillo told the Current more community forums will be needed following the feedback gathered at Wednesday’s listening session.
“Today’s been a really great conversation with different perspectives,” Castillo said. “But, what’s at the core of what I heard today is continuing to honor San Antonio’s rich labor history.”
Those who didn’t get a chance to take the survey or attend Wednesday’s event can still make their voices heard during yet another community forum at 3 p.m. Saturday at Tony G’s Soul Food.
City staff estimates the name change could cost $200,000, including alterations to street signs and other associated costs.
Castillo said she hopes to introduce a proposal within the next three months to initiate the renaming of César E. Chávez Boulevard.
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