The City of Houston is moving quickly following shocking allegations of sexual abuse against prominent labor leader Cesar Chavez. A street bearing his name in Houston is now set to be changed — and soon.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the city is already taking action, with Public Works preparing to print new street signs as early as Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the City of Houston shared a timeline with KHOU 11 outlining the process for the proposed name change:

Wednesday, April 1
The Planning and Development Department will mail letters to 113 abutting property owners and relevant agencies notifying them of the proposed change and a public comment period. Letters will be sent in both English and Spanish.
Notified agencies include police, fire, CenterPoint, METRO, and the U.S. Postal Service.

38 parcels are addressed on Cesar Chavez Boulevard

75 parcels are located on side streets

April 1 – May 1
A 30-day public comment period

Wednesday, May 13
The item will be placed on the City Council agenda for a vote, with a proposed effective date of June 12

May 13 – June 12
Implementation phase:

Public Works installs new street signs

Property owners and agencies are formally notified of the change

The push to rename the street comes after U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia addressed City Council, urging leaders to consider honoring Dolores Huerta instead. Huerta, a longtime labor leader, has accused Chavez of sexually abusing her.

“She was there, she was a co-organizer, she coined the phrase ‘sí se puede.’ She’s been there as a fighter for workers’ rights, for women’s rights and for human dignity … so we made the recommendation, and I think council is taking it to heart,” Garcia told KHOU 11.

“No legacy, no matter how historic and impactful, places anyone above accountability. I believe and stand with the victims,” Garcia said during the meeting. She wore a Dolores Huerta pin on her blazer.

Mayor Whitmire emphasized the urgency of the process.

“This cannot be taken more seriously,” he said. “For full transparency, we’re expediting to the point that Public Works is going to print today to make new signs.”

KHOU 11 has reached out to the mayor’s office to clarify whether temporary signage will be installed while the formal renaming process is completed.

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