Many business owners on Cesar Chavez Street support the name change and the replacement of multiple murals depicting the late activist.

AUSTIN, Texas — Support is building to rename Cesar Chavez Street in Austin, but city leaders say the process will take time and community input before any final decision is made.

The renewed push comes just days after sexual assault allegations surfaced against late civil and labor rights leader, who died in 1993. The claims have sparked debate across the city about whether his name should continue to be prominently displayed on one of Austin’s major roadways.


City leaders weighing options

Multiple Austin City Council members have quickly voiced support for considering a name change. According to the Austin Transportation & Public Works Department, there are two primary paths forward: the city council can introduce a resolution, or the community can initiate a formal petition process similar to the one used to name the street in 1993.

District 2 Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes said community feedback will play a key role in determining the next steps.

“If we decide to rename this after an individual, who should that individual be?” Fuentes said. “Icons like Dolores Huerta, local icons like Martha Cotera come to mind. There are a lot of options for us to consider, and the process has to be intentional and thoughtful.”

Fuentes added there is no set timeline for a potential change but acknowledged a sense of urgency among some residents. She also acknowledged that the city wants to uplift the Latino community. 

“Latinos are one-third of our city’s population,” Fuentes said. “So a one-third of Austinites have Latino-Hispanic heritage, and so, I want to make sure that we continue to honor and celebrate and uplift the Latino culture.”


Business owners face uncertainty

For business owners along Cesar Chavez Street, the debate presents both personal and financial challenges.

Maria Luisa Mendoza, co-owner of Mr. Natural, said she is still processing the allegations and what they could mean for her business.

“In my case, I respect everybody’s opinion,” Mendoza said. “I’m not against, I’m not in favor. We are a business open for everybody.”

Mendoza’s restaurant features a mural of Chavez on their building, which has recently drawn attention from community members asking whether or not it will be removed.

“This surprise of information comes 30 years after his death … it makes me reflect on myself and my life,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza added that removing or altering the mural would require significant funding.

“I talked to the muralist, and he says we would need to do a fundraising because that is going to cost thousands of dollars,” Mendoza said.


Street landmarks tied to Chavez legacy

Chavez’s legacy is embedded throughout the street, from signage to public art. A statue near the Terrazas Branch Austin Public Library and multiple murals highlight his historical impact.

At Trovador Custom Hats and Art Gallery, owner Ryan McGrath said he is open to change in light of the allegations. His building shares space with another Chavez mural created by the East Austin group Arte Texas. 

“It’s a great mural … before we knew that he had done negative things, it was a wonderful thing to promote him for all the good he did,” McGrath said.

He added that businesses often want to avoid associations with controversy and are looking to city leadership for guidance.

“Typically, you just don’t want to be associated with supporting any type of negativity,” McGrath said.

A member of Arte Texas said amid these allegations, it’s still important to remember the movement Chavez and other Chicanos of the United Farm Workers stood for. The group is currently in conversations about the fate of the mural. 


What happens next?

Cesar Chavez Street runs through the heart of Austin, making any decision highly visible and impactful. While there is no definitive timeline for a potential renaming, city leaders emphasize that community engagement will be critical in determining both whether the name changes — and what it could become.

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax also chimed in on the process. 

“As a City, we are incredibly saddened and disturbed to learn of the reports of Cesar Chavez – a name and persona deeply woven into the fabric of many places across the country, including Austin,” Broadnax said in a statement to KVUE. “We firmly believe that the right thing to do is move forward to removed his name from the street that runs through that heart of our city. We will do so in partnership with our community, particularly those groups who have long supported the farmworkers movement and championed civil rights.”

Broadnax said whichever method the community takes to rename the street, the change must ultimately be approved by the Austin City Council. 

For now, the conversation continues as Austin weighs how to balance historical legacy with evolving community values.