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In New Mexico, dozens of institutions, streets and murals are dedicated to Chicano civil rights leader C茅sar Chavez.

After a New York Times revealed decades of sexual abuse and rape allegations involving Chavez, a community that once revered him must decide what to do next.

On Tuesday evening, more than a dozen people gathered at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 to discuss renaming the major east-west street in the city currently named Avenida Cesar Chavez.

鈥淚鈥檓 a little heartbroken,鈥� resident Guadalupe Arellanes said of the allegations.

While the allegations sent shockwaves across the nation, the news carries extra weight in New Mexico, home to civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. Last month, after 60 years, Huerta released a statement alleging that Chavez sexually coerced and raped her, leading to two secret pregnancies.

From the Hispanic Cultural Center, you can see both names in white lettering as the street changes from Avenida Cesar Chavez to Avenida Dolores Huerta.

Some suggested that the entire street should be named for Huerta, while others suggested going back to previous iterations like Stadium or Bridge.

Others had more novel ideas. Though sad, the renaming is a chance for the community to tell new stories, Arellanes said. 

Arellanes and her family would like to dedicate the street to her nephew, Andres Arellanes, who in 2007 was shocked by a stun gun between six and 18 times by sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department officers. After surviving the attack, Arellanes鈥� advocacy would change city, national and international stun gun policy for law enforcement. 

According to his uncle, James Arellanes, because of his nephew鈥檚 case and relentless advocacy, law enforcement Tasers are now designed differently, with cool-off periods and voltage limits.

鈥淗e鈥檚 probably saved hundreds, if not thousands, of lives,鈥� James Arellanes said.

For other residents, the name change presents a solution to years of headaches.

Onastine Nu帽ez Jaramillo lives on Avenida Cesar Chavez, but not the one most residents are familiar with. Running parallel just south of Avenida Cesar Chavez is a small neighborhood road with the same name.

In the hundred years her family has owned the house she now lives in, Nu帽ez Jaramillo said the street name has changed four times, from Manuel to Bridge to Stadium to Avenida Cesar Chavez. To this day, her deed still lists her address as Stadium, she said.

Nu帽ez Jaramillo hopes that while the city works to rename the major street, it can finally give her street its own distinct name.

Her vote? Go back to Stadium.

鈥淛ust give me something simple,鈥� Nu帽ez Jaramillo said.

Meanwhile, several people at the meeting suggested naming the entirety of the street after Huerta.

Lala Gonzales, an event and media coordinator for the S铆, Se Puede Committee, said that naming the street for Huerta is the clear choice.

鈥淲e're so fortunate to have Dolores Huerta, who's known on a national and global scale for her passion and her work and her advocacy, not just for farmworkers' rights, but for all rights, women's rights, equality 鈥� everything,鈥� Gonzales said.

The allegations also affected her organization, which was formerly named for and dedicated to C茅sar Chavez and other organizers in the Chicano rights movement.

Ultimately, the final decision is up to the City Council, which will decide if renaming the street is worth the time, money and potential confusion. Several councilors have already expressed support for renaming the road alongside Mayor Tim Keller.

The City Council is still accepting suggestions for renaming the street, which can be submitted on the city鈥檚 .

Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.