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Board approves renaming West Grove Avenue to Jimmy McCrackland Way in North Richmond
Summary
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a traffic resolution renaming West Grove Avenue to Jimmy McCrackland Way after local blues musician Jimmy McCrackland, following a presentation from Public Works and supporters noting North Richmond's musical history.
Contra Costa County supervisors voted unanimously April 1 to adopt a traffic resolution renaming West Grove Avenue in North Richmond to Jimmy McCrackland Way.
The board opened a public hearing on the renaming at the request of the North & Greater Richmond Blues Foundation and the County Public Works Department. Monish (Manish) Send, the county traffic engineer, told the board the Housing Authority of Contra Costa County is the sole proprietor along the roadway and there are currently no homes on West Grove Avenue, clearing the way for a roadway name change.
Supervisor John Gioia, whose office helped start the process, described McCrackland’s local and national ties to the blues tradition in North Richmond. “A lot of people may not realize that North Richmond has a deep history of blues,” Gioia said, recounting that McCrackland performed locally after his naval service, played at clubs including the Savoy, and recorded nationally. The board heard that McCrackland performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival as recently as 2007 and died in San Pablo in 2012 at age 91.
No members of the public joined the hearing to speak either in chambers or by Zoom. Supervisor Diane Burgess seconded a motion by Gioia to adopt the resolution; the board voted unanimously in favor.
County staff said a community ceremony and sign installation will be scheduled once Public Works determines a date for erection of the new roadway sign.
The renaming adds a formal recognition of North Richmond’s musical heritage and will change official documents and signage where the roadway name appears.
Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt traffic resolution renaming West Grove Avenue to Jimmy McCrackland Way — Mover: Supervisor John Gioia; Second: Supervisor Diane Burgess; Vote: 5–0 (Anderson, Gioia, Burgess, Carlson, Scales Preston — yes); Outcome: approved.
The County Public Works Department and the Housing Authority handled the technical steps required for the renaming. Public Works staff said they are available to answer questions about the timing of sign placement and related logistics.
