Before it was Cesar Chavez Boulevard, San Antonio knew it by another name. Locals are remembering the original name of the street and hoping it returns after abuse allegations were brought to light against the late farm workers’ rights icon, Cesar Chavez.

Most major cities in Texas and California named streets after Chavez to honor his role in the U.S. farmworker movement. But recently, some cities and institutions are reconsidering those honors, including San Antonio, due to the recent sexual abuse allegations. The New York Times reported that Chavez abused women and underage girls during the 1960s and 1970s.

In a public Facebook group with over 94,000 members, San Antonians shared their memories of what Cesar Chavez Boulevard used to be called, Durango Boulevard, which was changed in 2011. Kenneth Douglas Trude III wrote in the post in Classic San Antonio: 1950-1999, “It was always be Durango to me.”

“Durango. Should have never been changed,” Dan Campbell wrote. 

“DURANGO. We want it back,” Marian Stanko added.

“It was Durango for years that I recall from my days growing up in the Westside until Graduation 1975 from high school,” Grace Wyman wrote.

San Antonio District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo is calling on the council to rename the western half of Cesar Chavez Boulevard, which spans downtown from UTSA at I-10 to I-37. Castillo also recommended that the city explore options to absorb the cost of the name change.

The City of San Antonio released a survey asking residents for their input on renaming Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. between Southwest 36th Street and South Hackberry Street. The survey asks the public if it should be renamed Durango Boulevard. or to write in another option. 

The city says the responses are confidential and will be used to help rename the street. This survey will be open from Monday, March 23, to Thursday, April 2, at 5 p.m. You can click here to take it.