A blank wall is seen Friday, March 27, 2026, where a mural of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez once stood on East Cesar Chavez Street at Waller Street after it was removed earlier in the week following a New York Times investigation that reported multiple allegations that Chavez sexually assaulted young women and girls, including civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.
Jay Janner/Austin American-StatesmanRenaming Cesar Chavez Street in Austin could cost the city between $423,700 and $1.22 million, mainly for new highway signage and community engagement.About 450 addresses, including 153 businesses, would be affected by the name change and may face significant rebranding expenses.Possible new names include Water Street, Dolores Huerta and Jorge “George” Pastore, but the Dolores Huerta Foundation opposes using Huerta’s name.
Renaming Cesar Chavez Street could cost upwards of $1.2 million, according to a Tuesday staff presentation to the Austin City Council that covered the price of new signage and a sweeping community engagement plan to determine a new name for the major thoroughfare. The presentation also covered possible alternative names that included Water Street.
The push follows a March investigation by The New York Times that reported newly disclosed allegations against the late labor leader, prompting similar renaming conversations across the state and country. In Austin, the effort also comes as the city stares down a $26 million budget shortfall.
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In a presentation to City Council Tuesday, city staff outlined a plan for engaging a wide array of interests in the renaming process that included residents and businesses along East and West Cesar Chavez streets, labor unions and Latino community leaders. Staff said the city plans to hold three public meetings over the summer — two in-person and one virtual — where residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback. The city also will gather feedback online.
Staff will spend September analyzing the feedback and make a recommendation to council, which would likely vote on a renaming in the fall.
Price tag could top $1 million
Staff said there are about 450 addresses, including 153 businesses, along East and West Cesar Chavez streets that would have to foot the cost of a street name change. Officials pointed to the Menchaca Road renaming process in the late 2010s when some businesses estimated spending tens of thousands of dollars on rebranding. Staff said the city would conduct surveys and information sessions with affected businesses.
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For the city, staff estimated the entire process would cost between $423,700 and $1.22 million.
City street signs: $11,200
TxDOT and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority highway signs: $400,000 to $1.2 million
Economic District Custom Street signs: $10,000
Community engagement: $10,000
Notification mailings: $2,500
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An Austin street renaming typically begins with a $1,600 nonrefundable application fee, plus variable sign-replacement costs. The applicant usually pays and must either own abutting property or have a council sponsor.
Staff noted that TxDOT may be able to make some sign changes using stickers instead of fully replacing signs, potentially avoiding some associated costs to the city. Officials, however, said they do not yet have estimates for those possible adjustments.
No one on council raised concerns about spending money on the name change at a time when the city is scraping the couch cushions to ease the impact of deep budget cuts.
What could the new name be?
A sign calling for the renaming of East Cesar Chavez Street, featuring the United Farm Workers logo, is posted along the roadway in Austin on Monday, April 13, 2026. Calls to rename the street followed a New York Times investigation reporting allegations that Cesar Chavez sexually assaulted young women and girls, including civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
City staff told council members Tuesday that Cesar Chavez Street was originally named Water Avenue in 1839 before becoming Water Street and later First Street in 1887. It was renamed Cesar Chavez Street in 1993. As debate continues over a possible renaming, some residents and city leaders have floated returning the corridor to one of its historic names.
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Staff said community members have also suggested renaming the street after Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, or Jorge “George” Pastore, a senior police officer who died in the line of duty in 2023.
In Houston, the city initially issued work permits to change the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to Dolores Huerta Boulevard. But on Wednesday, the Houston City Council voted to rename the road after local war hero Master Sgt. Joe E. Ramirez instead.
Council Member Mike Siegel pointed out Tuesday that the Dolores Huerta Foundation said it opposes renaming Cesar Chavez Street after Huerta.
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A spokesperson for Huerta told the San Francisco Standard in March that streets, schools and buildings should instead be named after other individuals associated with the United Farm Workers movement. California followed the group’s suggestion, changing the state holiday “Cesar Chavez Day” to “Farmworkers Day.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the Houston City Council had voted to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard after Dolores Huerta. While work permits were issued to do so, the council voted on Wednesday to rename the road after local war hero Master Sgt. Joe E. Ramirez instead.