San Jose to Review Cesar Chavez Name on Public Properties After Abuse Allegations

San Jose city crews covered a plaque honoring Cesar Chavez at a downtown plaza bearing his name Friday morning, marking the beginning of a process to review and potentially remove tributes to the labor leader from publicly-owned properties. The move comes less than a week after The New York Times published allegations of sexual abuse against Chavez, including claims involving Dolores Huerta, a prominent figure in the United Farm Workers movement.

City officials are now preparing to formally inventory facilities, amenities, and public art connected to Chavez, according to a memo released Tuesday and set to be discussed by the Rules and Open Government Committee on Wednesday. The memo, authored by Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Anthony Tordillos, Domingo Candelas, and Pamela Campos, outlines a plan to gather community input to guide any renaming decisions.

“This memorandum does not prejudge the outcome of any individual renaming decision,” the memo states. “Initiating an inventory and public process is a measured step that allows San Jose to act thoughtfully, support survivors, and honor the broader legacy of farmworker rights.”

The allegations against Chavez, who died in 1993, have sent shockwaves through San Jose, a city where he lived at various points and was widely celebrated. Public tributes include Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose and an East San Jose elementary school bearing his name. Annual Cesar Chavez Day celebrations, including a breakfast, march, and flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, have been halted in light of the recent revelations.

The city’s review process will likewise assess the legal and procedural requirements for renaming public assets, which typically involve multiple agency reviews and City Council approval. The memo emphasizes the need for a “trauma-informed” community engagement process, designed to avoid retraumatizing survivors.

San Jose leaders have swiftly condemned the alleged abuse and pledged to reevaluate how the city honors the farmworkers’ movement. The memo specifically calls for prioritizing input from the Latino and farmworker communities during the renaming consideration process.

Jessica Paz-Cedillos, CEO of the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza and a columnist for San Jose Spotlight, praised the city’s plan as “the right first step.”

“The farmworkers movement was built by many – especially women and community leaders whose contributions have often gone unrecognized,” Paz-Cedillos said. “This is an opportunity not to erase history, but to deepen it – to elevate the full story, honor those who carried the movement forward and ensure our public spaces reflect both our values and our collective legacy.”

The city’s inventory of Chavez-related assets will also include consideration of properties overseen by other local jurisdictions or public agencies. In 2022, the nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe, with city support, purchased Chavez’s family home in East San Jose, with plans to transform it into a community space focused on education, preservation, and housing for young adults. The fate of this property remains unclear as the city begins its review.

The San Jose Rules and Open Government Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday at 2 p.m. To discuss the memo and initiate the review process.