Limuw St. to replace Calle Cesar Chavez

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). The Santa Barbara City Council voted 6-to-1 to change to name of Calle Cesar Chavez to the Limuw St.

Limuw is the Chumash name for Santa Cruz Island.

Chumash residents spoke before the vote about naming it after their Island heritage and said the Island is visible from the street.

The other options considered included Dolores Huerta and the street's former name Calle Si Se Puede.

Huerta visited and Santa Barbara recently and told councilmembers she wanted what the resident wanted.

The name was originally changed to honor labor leader Calle Cesar Chavez three decades ago.

Name changes throughout the state follow allegations of sexual abuse.

The accusers include women who were the children of his followers and Huerta who had children with Chavez.

Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez proposed a motion to change it the former name saying it would be easier for business owners and first responders since a portion of the street is called Calle Si Se Puede, but he ended up voting in favor of Limuw.

Mayor Randy Rowse, a former restaurant owner, was the only holdout.

Supporters all said this is the time to seize the opportunity to honor Chumash heritage.

The city staff was directed to look into grants to cover some of the name change costs.