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Residents, students oppose proposal to rename Maple Avenue for Charlie Kirk
Summary
Two public commenters asked council to keep Maple Avenue’s name or rename it for a local historical figure, saying national commentator Charlie Kirk lacks local ties and his views conflict with community values.
Two speakers during the Odessa City Council public-comment period on Oct. 14 urged the council not to rename Maple Avenue for national commentator Charlie Kirk.
Steve Chandler, who identified himself as an Odessa resident and longtime educator, told the council that while Kirk was killed in a recent shooting, “there’s been a lot of people in this town whose name changed to Maple would be more significant than changing it to Charlie Kirk.” Chandler said Kirk “has no community ties” and argued the city should recognize local public servants and fallen community members instead.
Francisco Morales, a senior at Permian High School, also urged the council to oppose the naming. Morales said Kirk “does not reflect the values of the people I know and respect” and proposed renaming the street for Jovita Idar (described by Morales as a Mexican American teacher, journalist and civil-rights activist). Morales said he circulated a petition among students, business owners and residents asking the council to honor a local figure.
The speakers’ remarks were given during the meeting’s citizen comment period before the council moved to the consent agenda and later business. No formal council action on a renaming ordinance or resolution appears in the meeting minutes/transcript; presenters said the matter “is not an agenda item but may become one.”
City staff did not present a draft ordinance, timetable or formal sponsorship during the Oct. 14 meeting. Because the transcript records these remarks only as public comment, no formal vote or binding direction to staff was recorded at this meeting.
