New street signs will be going up next year in Lansing's Old Town with Labor Leader César E. Chavéz's name printed on them.
A portion of Grand River Avenue in Old Town will be renamed after the activist beginning at Oakland Avenue to Washington Avenue and W. Grand River Avenue beginning at Washington Avenue to Pine Street.
Lansing City Council approved the name change at last night's meeting. The effort to have Grand River Avenue in Lansing renamed after Chavéz has been an ongoing fight for years, dating back to the 1990s.
The street was renamed after Chavéz in 1994, but the name was changed back after the issue was put on a ballot for voters to decide. The city's memorial review board gave the green light this summer for East and West Grand Avenue to be renamed César E. Chavéz Avenue.
Supporters say this is about honoring Chavéz. "This was not only a Hispanic, or Latino, or Chicano hero, this was an American hero. This was a civil rights hero, This was a human rights hero- and many folks around the world already understand and recognize that," said Ignacio Andrade who supports the name change. Supporters argue Chavéz should be recognized in Lansing like Martin Luther King Junior and Malcolm X.
Some business leaders say the name change will cost them thousands of dollars. The Lansing State Journal reports there will be a public hearing on December 11 where people can weigh in on having the words "Historic" or "Honorary" Grand River Avenue signs placed below the official street name sign. The new signs will go up January 1, 2018.
