AUSTIN — The city of Austin estimates that renaming Cesar Chavez Street could cost up to $1.2 million, according to city officials who outlined the plan during a recent City Council work session.
City staff said the estimate includes the cost of replacing street and highway signage and conducting the public engagement process. It does not include expenses that would be incurred by businesses along the corridor, which would be responsible for updating their own materials following any name change.
Cesar Chavez Street runs from MoPac Boulevard through downtown Austin to U.S. Highway 183 and includes hundreds of businesses and residential properties.
City Council members discussed a potential renaming in March after a New York Times investigation included allegations from women who said labor leader Cesar Chavez sexually assaulted and abused them as children. Council members said they wanted to evaluate whether to continue honoring Chavez through the street name.
Before any decision is made, the city plans to hold three public meetings in July and August, including one virtual session, to gather community input.
Jessica King, director of Austin’s communications and engagement department, said residents have already submitted suggestions for possible new names. She said the top three options discussed so far include East First Street, Dolores Huerta Street, and Jorge “George” Pastore Street.
King said the city has not finalized a formal survey and will continue collecting input through the public process.
Council Member Mike Siegel said there have been objections to renaming the street after another individual connected to the farmworker movement. He also noted that the foundation of labor activist Dolores Huerta has said it does not want her name used for the street.
The street has carried Chavez’s name since 1993 in honor of his role in the United Farm Workers movement, which advocated for farmworkers’ labor rights.
City staff are expected to present a summary of public feedback to the City Council in September.