Phoenix mayor wants to change racially-charged street names despite homeowner opposition

Dustin Gardiner | The Republic | azcentral.com

Show Caption Hide Caption Kristin Payestewa, cousin of Lori Piestewa, talks about efforts to change a controversial street name Kristin Payestewa, cousin of Lori Piestewa, talks with Republic reporter Dustin Gardiner about efforts to rename Squaw Peak Drive in Phoenix. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com

In his quest to rename city streets with racially-insensitive titles, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is trying to change the city's policy so it can be done without the support of affected homeowners.

Stanton has called for renaming two streets with controversial names: Squaw Peak Drive, which contains a word many consider a derogatory term for Native American women, and Robert E Lee Street, a nod to the general who led Confederate armies during the Civil War.

But homeowners on both streets are outspoken in opposing the effort, citing inconvenience and the cost to change their addresses. They also say the names carry a sense of nostalgia or history.

That's why Stanton is proposing to change city policy so Phoenix can rename streets with offensive titles even when homeowners refuse to go along. The city's current policy requires support from 75 percent of adjacent property owners.

The mayor said he's taking the issue on because the street names aren't consistent with the city's inclusive values. African-American leaders are also pushing to remove state Confederate memorials.

Stanton said the city shouldn't "have street names that revere the Confederacy or neo-Confederacy concepts or that demean our Native American brothers and sisters."

"We want to support all people in our community, including especially our Native American brothers and sisters, our African-American residents," he said in an interview.

Stanton's push is likely to face strong opposition from some property owners and City Council members.

Councilwoman Thelda Williams said she will not support the policy change or renaming the two streets. She said while it might sound simple to replace street signs, the move would create a financial burden for people who live there.

Homeowners would likely have to update the address listed on their driver's licenses, bank accounts and various legal documents.

"After I learned all this information, I decided I’m no longer politically correct," Williams said. "I don’t think it’s right for us to make a decision that costs people a lot of money for something they didn’t initiate."

Stanton hasn't unveiled his proposal to change the city's street-renaming policy, but council members are expected to debate the issue at a meeting later this month.

Property owners who live on the two streets are flooding the city with complaints. Already, a majority of the residents on the street at the base of Piestewa Peak — 16 of about 20 homeowners — have submitted a petition urging the city to keep the name intact.

New opposition to renaming Lee Street

But it's unclear how many residents along Robert E Lee Street, a mostly-residential stretch in northeast Phoenix with about 85 homes, two small apartment complexes and a charter school, oppose a name change.

Stanton announced his intention to rename that street and change the city's street-naming policy in media interviews last week.

Ivan Milosavljevic and his parents have lived on the street for almost two decades and run a metal-working business out of their home. He said he doesn't find the name offensive, calling it a historical reference, not a racist term.

Milosavljevic said he opposes the change because he feels a sense of nostalgia for the street and doesn't want to waste time and money updating business letterhead and numerous other documents.

"What really irks me is that they’re trying to go above our heads," he said. "At the end of the day, are we going to erase people’s names from history books because they’re offensive to some people?"

However, African-American leaders say the city's move would send an important message about the legacy of slavery. The Rev. Reginald Walton, chairman of the Arizona Black Lives Matter campaign, applauded Stanton's move.

"Robert E. Lee was the general of the Confederacy, which to a state tore this country apart to preserve the peculiar institution of slavery," Walton said in a text message. "Removing his name is a step to say we as a city are moving beyond this and will never again celebrate those who drove a wedge in our society."

City officials don't have an estimate for how much it would cost to rename the street. It's also unclear what the street's name could change to.

Councilman Jim Waring, whose district includes the street, did not respond to a request for comment about the issue. He and other council members have received numerous emails opposing the change.

Other homeowners defiant

Meanwhile, homeowners along Squaw Peak Drive in east Phoenix have remained defiant in opposing Stanton's renaming effort. In addition to filing a petition, they have bombarded the city with emails.

The street is at the base of gnarled Piestewa Peak, one of the most popular hiking destinations in the state and formerly known as Squaw Peak.

State officials renamed the peak after fallen soldier Lori Piestewa in 2003, when she was killed in Iraq and became the first American Indian woman to die in combat serving with the U.S. military.

But the city never renamed the nearby street, to the chagrin of many Native American leaders. Ernest Martinez, a spokesman for Piestewa's family and her memorial committee, has said they hope to see the street name changed to honor Piestewa.

"It’s still derogatory," Martinez said. “It should not be used to describe women. We would not call Lori a squaw."

Historians and Native Americans have varying interpretations of the word's meaning. Some contend it originated from a word referring to female anatomy. Others say the origin wasn't negative and referred simply to Native women, but the word took on a new meaning as white settlers used it as a pejorative.

Still, residents along the street say the name has historical meaning. Some have said the city should use its money and resources to instead create a memorial to Piestewa at the base of the mountain.

Glenda Strickland, who lives on the street, sent Stanton an email demanding the name remain. She said residents cannot afford the costs associated with an address change and shouldn't have "an unnecessary" burden put on them.

"Most people do not find the name offensive," Strickland wrote. "We will never satisfy the Native Americans. We cannot deny our history nor should we."

Stanton said any changes will be made slowly to have as little impact as possible on residents.

He said any costs for the city will be small given that both streets are relatively short residential streets. The city estimates it would cost about $2,000 to change signage along the street near Piestewa Peak.

“The cost would be minimal, but it’s really more of a statement of our values as a community," Stanton said.

READ MORE:

Phoenix adds signs for Piestewa Peak amid street name controversy

Montini: Would you call Lori Piestewa a 'squaw'?