Some Austin City Council members are calling for Cesar Chavez Street to be renamed after the New York Times reported several sexual assault allegations against the labor leader last month.
The investigation says Chavez abused women and girls, including Dolores Huerta, a fellow leader in the labor movement who Chavez worked with. Fallout from the report was swift — across the country, events honoring Chavez were canceled, statues were removed, and school curriculums edited Chavez out.
In Austin, four city council members — José Velásquez, Vanessa Fuentes, José “Chito” Vela, and Zohaib “Zo” Qadri — made a request earlier this month to change the name of Cesar Chavez Street.
Chavez died in April 1993 and that December, Austin’s First Street was renamed after him The street runs west to east from MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) to U.S. 183. El Concilio Mexican-American Landowners de East Austin, a local nonprofit, originally organized a call to rename First Street to honor Chavez. Now, the group wants the street changed back to its original name.
“It’s a lesson learned,” Gabino Fernandez Jr., an El Concilio leader with El Concilio, told KVUE. “Going back to First Street eliminates future discoveries about individuals that could lead to the same situation.”
The council request calls for City Manager T.C. Broadnax to develop a community outreach plan on whether or not to change the street name, and how much doing so would cost. It also asks Broadnax to report back to council on May 27.
“The city of Austin is committed to upholding the dignity and safety of all people and affirms its
unwavering support to survivors of sexual violence,” the request says.
We recently asked City Cast Austin readers what they think the street’s name should be and got quite a few responses:
Dolores Huerta
Huerta is an obvious choice. She’s a civil rights icon, too, and bravely came forward with her story about Chavez.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Texas musician Stevie Ray Vaughan already has a statue at Auditorium Shores, why not give him a road, too?!
Ann Richards
One of Texas’ two women governors, Ann Richards, was another reader suggestion. Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bat Bridge intersects with the road.
Jorge Pastore
Pastore was an Austin police officer who was killed in the line of duty in November 2023. A petition to rename the road after Pastore has more than 1,500 signatures.
Willie Nelson
This wouldn’t be Austin if someone didn’t suggest Nelson. Willie Nelson Boulevard already exists downtown.
These are all great options, but it’s possible our reader Nicole E. had the best suggestions: “Bessie Coleman, Simone Biles, Bonnie Dunbar, Opal Lee. ANY WOMAN!”
