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Adrian commission votes to remove Cesar Chavez honorary street sign after local group asks for replacement
Summary
The Adrian City Commission voted to remove a Cesar Chavez honorary street sign effective immediately after a request from local nonprofit OLA, which said recent reporting raised concerns about Chavez's legacy and asked that the memorial shift to honor farmworkers collectively. The commission authorized public notice and directed Public Works to remove the sign.
The Adrian City Commission voted to remove the Cesar Chavez honorary street sign as soon as Public Works can take it down, following a public request from a local Latino nonprofit to change the memorial and a roll-call vote at its April 6 meeting.
Ben Negron, founder and executive director of the nonprofit OLA, told the commission his group had reviewed reporting in the New York Times and concluded the city should reconsider honoring a single individual. "Our mission has always been to ensure that our history, our contributions, and the dignity of the residents and the families are never forgotten," Negron said, urging a process that centers local farmworkers and community input.
Elizabeth Perez Gaseres, OLA's newly appointed board chairperson, asked the commission to replace the sign on G Street with a United Farm Workers–style marker to shift the focus "from a single individual to the collective movement," and said OLA would host a public meeting to gather resident input.
Commissioners discussed process steps, including whether a separate resolution is required to change the sign and whether the sign should be covered temporarily while public input is gathered. City staff said replacement signs cost roughly $40 each and that the city can remove the sign immediately if the commission directs Public Works to do so.
Commissioner Binky moved to remove the honorary street sign with a second from Commissioner Chesher; the motion passed by roll call with Commissioners Zeke, Roberts, Moore, Chesher, Banky and Mayor Heath voting yes (Commissioner Schwarz was excused). The commission also directed staff to publicly notice the removal and coordinate with community organizations and the Human Relations Commission on the follow-up forum and naming process.
Next steps identified by commissioners and staff included OLA hosting a public forum, outreach to other Latino organizations, and formal procedures to change an honorary street name (staff noted a resolution would likely be required to change the recorded designation). The commission did not adopt language for any replacement sign at the meeting and left the design and naming process to the public engagement the city and OLA plan to hold.
