FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno City councilmembers plan to introduce a motion to restore former street names along Cesar Chavez Boulevard after renewed controversy.
The move comes after recent reports have raised serious allegations about Chavez, accusing the late labor leader and civil rights activist of sexually abusing women, including minors, and fellow leader Dolores Huerta, who came forward to say the repeated sexual assaults led to pregnancies and multiple children.
Fresno councilmembers Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi, Nelson Esparza and Miguel Arias have confirmed they plan to restore the original names of roadways currently designated as César Chávez Boulevard.
RELATED: Dolores Huerta alleges assault by Cesar Chavez
Arias was one of the most vocal proponents of the original renaming, which created a single, continuous Cesar Chavez Boulevard stretching just over 10 miles through the heart of Fresno and connecting West Fresno with downtown.
On March 9, 2023, the Fresno City Council voted six to one to rename portions of California Avenue, Ventura Street and Kings Canyon Road as Cesar Chavez Boulevard. All councilmembers voted in favor except Garry Bredefeld.
The approved renaming included: California Avenue, from Marks Avenue to Hughes Avenue and from West Avenue to Mayor Avenue; Ventura Street, from Mayor Avenue to Cedar Avenue; and Kings Canyon Road, from Cedar Avenue to Peach Avenue.
The decision drew pushback from some residents and business owners along the corridor, who cited the cost of changing street signs, postal information and voter registration records. At the time, opponents said their concerns were not with Cesar Chavez himself, but with the loss of historic street names, some of which were more than 100 years old. The renaming also prompted a lawsuit, which delayed implementation.
Because of those legal challenges, the city did not complete the installation of all 222 Cesar Chavez Boulevard street signs until fall 2024. The city awarded $142,287 to a contractor to change the signs.
RELATED: Renaming of Kings Canyon Road to Cesar Chavez Boulevard in southeast Fresno completed
City officials say all of the former street signs remain in storage, meaning most would not need to be remade if the council approves another renaming, reducing the overall cost.
The video above is from an earlier story and will be updated.
EDITORS’ NOTE: A prior version of this story reported that Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias said he planned to bring forward the motion at the next regular city council meeting on March 26, but he later announced a special meeting.
Stay with ABC30 for the latest details on this developing story.
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