Cities nationwide are moving quickly to remove Cesar Chavez’s name from buildings, parks and streets following allegations of sexual misconduct by the labor-rights leader. But while initial votes and proclamations have come swiftly, the reality of implementing those decisions is more complex and, in some cases, costly.
Even in cases where costs are minimal, the process is not. In Modesto, California, officials began the process of renaming Cesar E. Chavez Park on March 23 following a unanimous vote by the city’s Culture Commission. Residents have until April 24 to submit ideas for a new name.
Modesto’s Culture Commission will select the top three names and forward those to the City Council for a vote to determine the new name, said Jeremy Rogers, director of Modesto’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department…