The results come as the city prepares to hold two community feedback sessions on Thursday and Saturday.
SAN ANTONIO — When San Antonio began gathering input about renaming Cesar Chavez Boulevard in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against the Latino civil rights icon, many in the city took to social media to voice support for reverting the corridor to its old name of Durango.
Now that option has even more momentum.
The city says 64% of more than 18,000 residents who responded to a recent survey tied to the renaming effort supported the option of Durango, which is what the street was called before San Antonio leaders voted in 2011 to rename it in honor of Chavez. The street runs about five and a half miles from the east side through downtown and into the west side, where it’s broken up into segments.
Most of the survey respondents hailed from District 1, comprised of downtown and the near-north side; District 7 on the northwest side; and District 9 on the far north side.
The city said the other 36% of respondents “suggested alternative names.” Officials didn’t specify what those suggested names were, but residents on social media have offered up everything from Selena and Gregg Popovich to Donald Trump and Dolores Huerta.
Huerta cofounded the United Farm Workers union with Chavez and also accused him of sexually abusing her on multipole occasions.
The city’s survey was open from March 23 to April 2. In addition to the widespread support for Durango, 79% of respondents who specifically live along Cesar Chavez Boulevard also said they wanted that name back on street signs. City staff have estimated that the renaming effort will cost around $205,000 – more than twice as much as the projected cost to change the street to Chavez boulevard in 2011 – and result in address changes for 295 businesses and residences.
City Council could vote on approving a new name by the end of May.
“The city considers street name changes only for significant reasons, and any proposed names should reflect the character and history of the surrounding community,” a press release from the city stated.
As part of the feedback-gathering process, San Antonio leaders will also hold two community forums this week to hear directly from residents:
- Wednesday, 6-8 p.m. at Jaime’s Place (1514 W. Commerce St.)
- Saturday, 3-5 p.m. at Tony G’s Soul Food (915 S. Hackberry St.)
The allegation against Chavez came to light on March 18, when a New York Times report alleging he abused multiple young girls was published, starting a nationwide reckoning over his legacy. Chavez died in 1993.
Within hours of the Times report, San Antonio Councilwoman Teri Castillo – whose district includes portions of Cesar Chavez Boulevard – messaged city leaders to push for the start of a renaming effort. In 2011, a different group of City Council members voted 7-4 to rename Durango as Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard.