San José Council Renames Plaza of Cesar Chavez to Plaza de San José
The Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José has been officially renamed Plaza de San José following a unanimous City Council vote. The new name was the top choice in a resident survey, which was part of a process…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, October 27, 2026 —
The downtown San José plaza formerly known as Plaza de Cesar Chavez has been officially renamed Plaza de San José, after the City Council voted unanimously to approve the change.
The new name was the top choice in a resident survey conducted as part of a renaming process initiated after allegations of sexual abuse against Cesar Chavez surfaced. The summary of the decision does not provide details about the allegations, the survey’s results beyond the leading choice, or how residents were invited to participate.
The account also does not specify when the council vote took place, how many residents took part in the survey, or whether the council considered other names. No statements from council members, survey participants or other parties were provided.
The reported outcome is that the plaza’s official name has changed to Plaza de San José. The available information does not describe whether signs, maps or other references to the former name have been updated, or when any such changes might occur.
The renaming process was linked to the allegations against Chavez, but the information provided does not state that the council made findings about those allegations. It also does not identify any additional actions connected to the vote. The decision and the survey result are the only reported details about the council’s action and the process that led to it.
Story summarized from the original created by Steph Rodriguez on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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