San Antonio Councilmember Proposes Renaming César E. Chávez Boulevard

District 5 Councilmember Teri Castillo files request to revert the street name to Durango Boulevard amid allegations against Chávez.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:50pm

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San Antonio District 5 Councilmember Teri Castillo has filed a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to begin the process of renaming César E. Chávez Boulevard back to its previous name of Durango Boulevard. According to the proposal, a majority of respondents to a community survey supported the change, with 79% of residents living along the corridor favoring the reversion to the Durango name.

Why it matters

The proposal comes amid growing controversy over allegations that civil rights leader César Chávez sexually assaulted women and girls, including labor rights activist Dolores Huerta. The reaction has been swift, with calls to rename streets and cancel festivals associated with Chávez, including the state of Texas no longer recognizing the holiday in his honor.

The details

Castillo's CCR highlights concerns about the financial impact of previous street renaming efforts, where residents and businesses were responsible for costs associated with updating signage and addresses. To address this, the proposal calls for the city to reallocate and prioritize funds originally intended for the Fiscal Year 2026 César Chávez March to instead help establish a relief program to assist with expenses tied to the potential name change.

  • On March 18, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state will no longer recognize the holiday named in Chávez's honor.

The players

Teri Castillo

The District 5 Councilmember who filed the Council Consideration Request to begin the process of renaming César E. Chávez Boulevard back to Durango Boulevard.

Dolores Huerta

A labor rights activist who has been the subject of allegations that César Chávez sexually assaulted her and other women and girls.

Greg Abbott

The Governor of Texas who announced that the state will no longer recognize the holiday named in Chávez's honor.

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What they’re saying

“Public spaces should reflect the community's values and culture, and honor only upstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to San Antonio. Residents made it crystal clear that it was time for a change, and I am grateful for everyone's feedback.”

— Teri Castillo, District 5 Councilmember

“This request provides a practical solution to ensure residents are not financially impacted by this decision. I anticipate a prompt process so the community can move forward and continue to take pride in the street they call home.”

— Teri Castillo, District 5 Councilmember

What’s next

The CCR requests that the item be placed on the agenda of the earliest available meeting of the city's Governance Committee. Districts 1, 3, 4, and 6 have signed on in support of the proposal.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the complex and evolving discussions around public spaces and the individuals they honor, as well as the practical considerations of renaming efforts. The community's feedback and the city's efforts to mitigate financial impacts will be crucial in determining the outcome.