San Antonio, TX — San Antonio City Council voted unanimously Thursday to restore the name Durango Boulevard, nearly 15 years after the roadway was renamed in honor of labor leader César E. Chávez.
The Aug. 20 decision follows sexual-abuse allegations against Chávez published earlier this year and comes as other major Texas cities reconsider streets bearing his name.
San Antonio renamed Durango Boulevard as César E. Chávez Boulevard in 2011. Following the allegations, the city received more than 18,000 responses during a public survey on the street’s future.
According to city officials, 64% of respondents supported returning to Durango Boulevard, while support increased to 79% among respondents who live along the roadway.
The change is expected to cost approximately $375,000, largely for city and state signage. It will also require 295 address changes.
City signs are expected to be replaced within about two months, while Texas Department of Transportation signs could take six to 12 months.
Other Texas Cities Are Taking Action
San Antonio isn’t alone in reassessing Chávez’s name on public streets.
Houston began its renaming process after the allegations surfaced and has approved replacing the César Chávez Boulevard name with one honoring Master Sgt. Joe E. “Chaco” Ramirez, a Korean War veteran, former prisoner of war and longtime East End community figure.
Austin has also opened a public process to determine whether César Chávez Street should be renamed, including community meetings and a survey seeking residents’ opinions and potential replacement names.
The actions follow allegations reported in March involving Chávez, who died in 1993. The allegations include sexual abuse of girls and Dolores Huerta, his fellow labor organizer and co-founder of what became the United Farm Workers.
The developments mark a broader reassessment of Chávez’s public legacy in several of Texas’ largest cities, although other communities across the state continue to have roads bearing his name and have not announced similar action.