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Jackson council unanimously renames Milwaukee Street to Carl Breeding Way after heated public hearing
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing with sharply divided public comment, Jackson City Council voted unanimously to rename Milwaukee Street as Carl Breeding Way, saying the change honors a long-serving local civic leader despite residents’ worries about history and costs.
Jackson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to rename Milwaukee Street as Carl Breeding Way, following a public hearing that drew a mix of support and opposition from residents.
The council opened the hearing after a motion and public notice. Supporters described Carl Breeding as a longtime neighborhood presence and civic leader: Michael Bicy said Breeding “was selfless... walking the neighborhood” to help residents, and Darren Hester, whose family has lived near Milwaukee for decades, called Breeding “a good man” deserving of recognition. Pastor James Hines urged the city to honor those who fought for Jackson, saying Breeding “stood up for right.”
Opponents voiced historical and practical objections. Margie Thomas said she was “totally opposed” to renaming the street and warned that most Milwaukee Street property is rental housing and that name change is tokenistic. John C. King argued residents “want streets fixed” rather than renamings and suggested the proposal had political overtones. Several speakers including Joseph Neil Long and Nicholas Thurston raised concerns about costs to residents who might need to update documents after a renaming.
Mayor Daniel Mahoney and council members framed the vote as a modest way to keep Breeding’s civic work visible. The mayor said the request came from the family and cited Breeding’s NAACP leadership and long public-service record; staff attached a resolution and biography to the agenda packet for council review. Council members also emphasized that the change is symbolic recognition tied to honoring local service.
The council formally adopted the resolution renaming the segment, with the clerk recording the unanimous vote. The move will change signage and official maps; the council did not cite any immediate funding for resident address-change assistance.
The measure’s passage followed a broader evening in which council heard other public hearings and consent items; the meeting adjourned after council comments and routine business.
