LOS ANGELES - Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez introduced a motion directing the City of Los Angeles to begin a formal review of all city-owned assets named after Cesar Chavez, marking the first step toward a potential renaming process rooted in equity and community input.
The motion comes in response to deeply troubling allegations that have prompted national organizations, including the United Farm Workers and the Cesar Chavez Foundation, to suspend official celebrations. As both the City’s Public Works Chair – responsible for oversight of streets, infrastructure, and city assets – and a survivor herself, Councilmember Hernandez is taking action to ensure the City’s public spaces reflect its values.
“At a time when those at the highest levels of government are sanitizing history and peddling misinformation, we have a responsibility to tell the truth, especially when it’s hard,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “And when we see those same powerful leaders evade accountability, it’s even more important that cities like Los Angeles lead by example. We can’t look the other way. We have to be clear about our values and make sure what we honor reflects them."
The motion instructs the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) and City Administrative Officer (CAO), to report back within 30 days with a full inventory of city-owned streets, facilities, and other assets bearing Cesar Chavez’s name. It also directs the CLA, with support from the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department, to lead a community-driven process to evaluate next steps, including potential renaming, and to provide recommendations that reflect the full, multiracial history of the farmworker movement.
“The farmworker movement is not just history but lives on through the workers, families, and advocates who continue the fight every day," said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who co-presented the motion. "In Council District 14, Cesar Chavez Avenue has long connected our Eastside communities and represents that legacy. As we evaluate how we honor that history, this process must be thoughtful, community-driven, and grounded in truth. We have a responsibility to ensure that what we commemorate reflects both our values and the movement’s legacy.”
The impact of this effort is already being felt in communities across Council District 1. In Pico-Union, the César Chávez Community Garden, operated by Cultiva LA and brought to life after years of organizing in partnership with Councilmember Hernandez’s office, has become a vital space for food access, education, and community connection. As the City begins this process, local partners are stepping forward to help lead with transparency and care.
"Cultiva LA stands in solidarity with women and survivors and supports a transparent, community-led process to rename the garden,” said Jose Miguel Ruiz, founder of Cultiva LA. “We look forward to working with Council District 1 to ensure this process centers truth, accountability, and the voices of those most impacted.”
The motion affirms that the legacy of the farmworker movement, including landmark labor protections and the fight for dignity on the job, remains foundational to Los Angeles. The proposed process aims to ensure history is honored in a way that reflects the full contributions of workers, organizers, and communities, including Filipino American labor leaders, women, and immigrant workers whose roles have often gone unrecognized.
Following the release of the reports, Councilmember Hernandez will lead its initial review of assets, while working with City partners in the Civil + Human Rights Department to create a process to rename these assets that honors the legacy and sacrifice of all who were part of the Farmworkers Movement and struggle.
Read the full motion here.