Cesar Chavez Drive renaming, Milwaukee Common Council approves

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee's Common Council on Tuesday approved renaming Cesar Chavez Drive on the city's south side.

There was no debate or discussion, and the final vote was: 13 yes, one abstained and one excused. Ald. JoCasta Zamarippa initially voted yes but asked to change her vote from yes to abstained.

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Abuse allegations

The backstory:

In March, a New York Times report claimed Chavez sexually abused two girls. The late civil rights and labor leader co-founded the United Farm Workers with Dolores Huerta, who also reported abuse by Chavez.

Zamarripa announced the cancellation of the city's Cesar Chavez Day celebration in response to the allegations. She said there would be a broader community discussion about renaming Cesar Chavez Drive.

 In 1996, Milwaukee leaders unanimously agreed to name a stretch of 16th Street – from Pierce to Mitchell – on the city's south side after Chavez.

Street name change

What's next:

For now, Chavez Drive will revert to 16th Street. Mayor Cavalier Johnson's signature is needed to change the street's name, something he said he will provide.

"I think it's important to sign," he said. "When the allegations around Cesar Chavez were brought up by the New York Times, I convened a group of Latino leaders in Milwaukee to have conversations about what they think should be next, and I think it's important for us to have these sorts of conversations – it seemed to be the consensus of the group that something should happen here, including a name change."

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The change to 16th Street is not the end of talks about the corridor. On Tuesday, the Common Council approved two of the mayor's appointments to an advisory committee that helps with naming buildings and streets. 

Activists and city officials have argued renaming the street is necessary to support survivors, shifting the focus from Chavez to the broader labor movement he once led. And one name floated around was Dolores Huerta. A mural in her honor, completed in 2021, can be found along the corridor in question.

Common Council votes

Dig deeper:

The Milwaukee Common Council voted on a number of proposals Tuesday.

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