What's at stake?
The Fresno City Council unanimously voted on Thursday to revert Cesar Chavez Boulevard back to its original street names. The change comes following an investigation published last month by the New York Times alleging sexual misconduct by Chavez.
South Fresno residents will soon see the familiar road signs of Ventura, Kings Canyon, and California again.
The Fresno City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to approve reverting Cesar Chavez Boulevard to its old names following a New York Times investigation published last month that included credible allegations of sexual assault committed by the once revered farmworkers rights icon.
Segments of California Avenue, Ventura Street and Kings Canyon Road along south Fresno were renamed Cesar Chavez Boulevard in 2023 following a Fresno City Council vote.
That resolution, sponsored by councilmembers Miguel Arias, Nelson Esparza and now-Supervisor Luis Chavez, was meant to recognize the late labor rights activist for his “life and work (that) had a profound impact on the people of Fresno.” At the time, many similar tributes had been erected across the country.
“When we made the change…the facts were clear, he was a hero in the labor movement,” said Arias at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Since then, the facts have changed,” he continued, “…it is incumbent upon us to change our minds when the facts have changed.”
In light of the new allegations, many institutions have been swift to undo those honors since the Times’ investigation.
The day after its publication, the Fresno City Council held a special meeting to unanimously vote to commit to renaming Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Thursday’s vote commits to reverting the streets back to their original names.
The changes affect about seven miles of road between South Marks Avenue and South Peach Avenue.
But the Chavez road name change was controversial in Fresno years before the Times’ investigation. Many residents and business owners argued that the name change erased a piece of cultural history that was significant to that part of town.
A community coalition in 2023 sued the city attempting to block the name change, arguing that they were not following all legal responsibilities required to do so. The city ultimately won the lawsuit, with the court finding that they had followed all necessary legal steps.
Over a dozen south Fresno residents came to Thursday’s meeting, including some from the community coalition. Though they all spoke in support of the city’s resolution, many also vented some personal frustrations, with some clearly still frustrated about the initial name change in 2023.
Fresno Unified School District Trustee Valerie Davis was among the speakers at Thursday’s meeting. Like many other residents at the day’s hearing, she said the California, Ventura and Kings Canyon have a “special meaning” to the community, recounting core memories that were attached to the locale.
“I think what you hear is an emotional plea,” said Dr. Venise Curry, a trained psychiatrist, at Thursday’s meeting, “but also a connection to the past, present and future.”
Some constituents argued that the council was dragging its feet to revert the names. However, the Fresno City Council must meet certain legal requirements before changing the names.
“You saw how fast we moved bringing this item to the Council at the first hearing (in March),” Councilmember Mike Karbassi said on Tuesday, “and we are moving as fast as we legally can.”
Karbassi also acknowledged some frustrations from business owners, who claimed the name changes in 2023 and now just three years later would lead to them taking on fees to update store signage and other promotional materials.
Scott Mozier, director of the public works department, said that the city set aside funding to help reimburse some of those associated costs in 2023. He said only one business took advantage of that program, resulting in a reimbursement of about $70.
No money was set aside this time to reimburse businesses of any possible fees, but Karbassi said at the dais that he’d commit $10,000 of his office’s operating budget to businesses that needed financial assistance.
The city will spend about $200,000 to revert the street signs back to their old names, according to city documents. The city spent about $230,000 to do the initial sign change, according to Mozier, who said at Thursday’s meeting that those costs were attributed to contractor service fees and an agreement with Caltrans for the freeway signs.
City Manager Georgeanne White said Tuesday the Cesar Chavez street signage will start being replaced in May. Mozier added that the freeway signs could take a bit longer, as it will require an agreement to be made between the city and Caltrans.
