The Westminster City Council on Dec. 10 agreed to ask staff to work with Sylvia Mendez and return with options for how the city should honor her, after hours of public comment that showed strong support for the Mendez family but also deep community concern the initiative was politically timed.

Councilmember Fan West introduced the proposal to place a sign reading “Sylvia Mendez Way” on a portion of Main Street near Westminster High School, arguing the location would educate students about the 1947 Mendez v. Westminster case that helped end school segregation in California and set the stage for Brown v. Board of Education. Fans and supporters in the audience testified about the family’s historical significance and urged the council to act.

But public speakers criticized the timing and process, saying the item felt like "political grandstanding." One resident said the Mendez family had not been meaningfully engaged and called for a more transparent community process before renaming public spaces. Several speakers urged the council to rescind a separate decision to add a name honoring a national political figure to All American Way, which has inflamed local divisions.

Council debate turned to process. One councilmember said the city should not “force something on [the family] without careful thoughts” and moved to give staff time to collaborate with Sylvia Mendez and return with recommended options. The motion passed on a roll call vote 3–0 with Councilwoman Fan West abstaining.

The council did not legally change any existing street name; staff were directed to develop options, outreach steps and recommended language for future council consideration.

What’s next: Staff will meet with Sylvia Mendez or her representatives and return to the council with proposed ways to honor her legacy, including proposed signage language and community-engagement steps.