Sacramento commission votes against renaming Cesar Chavez Plaza, Union Plaza
Sacramento’s parks commission voted to revisit the renaming of Cesar Chavez Plaza after concerns were raised about the proposed name, Union Plaza, and its alignment with the park’s original intent to honor Mexican American heritage. The mayor said the city would still move ahead with plans for the Union Plaza name change.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento’s parks and community enrichment commission has decided to revisit the renaming of Cesar Chavez Plaza after concerns were raised about the proposed name, Union Plaza, and its alignment with the park’s original intent of celebrating Mexican American heritage.
The downtown plaza, which has been a part of Sacramento for over 175 years, was renamed Cesar Chavez Plaza in the 1990s to honor the late labor and civil rights leader. However, following sexual assault allegations against Chavez that surfaced earlier this year, the city began considering a new name for the plaza.
The city reported that more than 2,600 people provided input on the renaming process, with Union Plaza receiving the most votes at 450.
“It’s a name that honors our past while looking towards our future. It’s a fitting name for a public space where Sacramentans have gathered, where we’ve organized, marched, stood together,” a member of the Sacramento Central Labor Council said.
Some commissioners supported the name change, emphasizing the importance of public input.
“We talk in this commission all the time about public comment and how important and powerful that is, and I do want to recognize that 450 citizens put that information,” said Lindsey King, a commissioner for parks and community enrichment.
However, other commissioners expressed concerns that Union Plaza does not adequately honor Mexican American heritage.
“We have now erased the legacy of the people from that plaza, and we’ve erased the identity of the people who built that legacy, and to me it does not feel thoughtful, it does not feel intentional, it does not feel inclusive, it does not feel ethical,” said Monique Langer, a commissioner for parks and community enrichment.
Jeanine Gaines, chair of the parks and community enrichment commission, acknowledged the mixed feelings surrounding the name.
“I didn’t necessarily like it, but I don’t know if my feelings can push me to outweigh what the people said,” Gaines said.
Ultimately, the commission voted to revisit the renaming process.
“I would like to convene local groups that have Mexican American interests and are focused on creating the original heritage intent of the park,” said Victoria Vasquez, a commissioner for parks and community enrichment.
The motion passed, but no timeline was set for the next steps. Once the commission approves a name, it will go before the city council for final approval.
The top names identified in the survey were Union Plaza (450 votes), Dolores Huerta Park (243 votes), Farmworkers Plaza (198 votes), People Plaza (98 votes), Plaza Park (89 votes), and Nisenan Plaza (47 votes).
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said in a statement the city would still move ahead with the name change.
“We respect our advisory Parks Commission, but will disagree with their action and proceed accordingly with the community-supported name change to Union Plaza,” he said.
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