I support the renaming of these two streets. Kudos to Mayor Kate Gallego and City Councilwoman Thelda Williams for their leadership on this issue. Thank you.
On behalf of Chispa Arizona, we believe that the elimination of demeaning and degrading words and names as well as removing confederate generals is a beginning. Words are important and powerful, and even more so when assigned to government streets, buildings, and entities. We look forward to the renaming of the two streets identified and also the undoing of other streets and systematic and symbolic racism that exists in the city.
Please change the name. Arizona is home to one of the largest Indigenous tribes in America and yet we still have names that belittle, degrade and humiliate. Honor the lands you live on by re-naming them to the Indigenous tribes of Arizona who have already given up so much. Thank you.
We already renamed Piestewa Peak Mountain in honor of a fallen hero. Renaming a street should be easy. Its a win-win, we're honoring the Native American culture and a fallen hero. Let's get this done so we can move on to other more challenging issues facing our city.
Phoenix resident since 2015 & an enrolled citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. As the mother of a young Native womxn growing up in this city, I am scared. The National Institute of Justice reported 4 in 5 American Indian/Alaska Native womxn (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime. Stats like these are perpetuated by the squaw stereotype/hypersexualization & exacerbate the violence. If changing a street name could prevent this, even a little, why wouldn’t we change the name?
I support changing the name to Piestewa Peak Drive. This name change has been discussed for years; it's just time to get it done. Let's be the city that shines a light on strong Native women, not the city that contributes to marginalizing Native women by using an offensive and derogatory term on a public street.
I support the city's action to initiate the process for removing the two offensive street names and consider replacing one with Piestewa Peak Drive and the other with either Freedom Street or Justice Street.
What is it the City Council is trying to solve? I implore our civic leaders not to fall into the trap of doing what is easy, but doing something that will positively impact our community. We are faced with REAL problems that require effort to solve. Let's focus on the core issues and solve them.
The average American family moves every 3-5 years. Changing these street names mean a few score households will have one more address change than they otherwise would have - and the US Post Office and the City will be doing most of the actual work. Robert E. Lee was a traitor and the word “Squaw” is widely recognized as racist. Make the change
I support the city's action item to change offensive street names. Diversity is such a beautiful component of any thriving community and should be encouraged and supported as an intrinsic value. Racist and oppressive nomenclatures continuously harm and traumatize members of our community and does not reflect the values of most Phoenicians.
I support the move to evaluate and change offensive street names. We do not need to glorify oppressors or racism. Erasing history?? As if street nomenclatures are teaching history - these people do not exist because their names are on a pole, I do not know Robert E. Lee because I read his name on a pole... but putting their names on poles DOES glorify them. So they need to be removed.
What is there to debate? The adjacent street to my home, travelled frequently by tourists & City residents to hiking trails, is offensive to Native Americans & reinforces derogatory language & historical oppression. Neighbors who oppose the change have stated "street name nostalgia"--what is that? Or, they're burdened w altering checking accounts or property deeds. They argue the word "squaw" is actually not offensive. Wikipedia: https://tinyurl.com/y9md75qe. You decide. Let's move forward.
I support the city's action to review offensive street names. We should be celebrating the diversity of our city and making it a safe place for all who live here. Offensive street names create a sense of lack of safety for those who have experienced historical trauma. We need to honor our past without continuing to harm people of color and women who have suffered discrimination and physical and emotional harm. We can do better.
One of the most admirable goals of this mayor and council has been to create a “Phoenix that works for everyone”- from economic development to social justice. When our place names offend members of our community because they reflect historical oppression, then these names don’t work for everyone. The term “squaw” in particular is deeply offensive to many Native Americans. The Az Center for Women’s Advancement stands with Native Women and urges the council to support the renaming process.
This is part of a disturbing national trend to denigrate or erase people from our history . For removing Robert E. Lee, the reason is that "his namesake is offensive and derogatory". Robert E. Lee described slavery as "a moral and political evil." Lee was an opponent of secession but choose to fight on the side of his state of Virginia. The Civil War was initiated by the South in order to preserve self-governance. My main concern is the precedent that this action provides for future efforts.
It's beyond time that we begin thinking consciously about how we name things, including streets. I support.
Change the name "Squ*w Peak Drive"
I support the renaming of these two streets. Kudos to Mayor Kate Gallego and City Councilwoman Thelda Williams for their leadership on this issue. Thank you.
On behalf of Chispa Arizona, we believe that the elimination of demeaning and degrading words and names as well as removing confederate generals is a beginning. Words are important and powerful, and even more so when assigned to government streets, buildings, and entities. We look forward to the renaming of the two streets identified and also the undoing of other streets and systematic and symbolic racism that exists in the city.
I support the renaming of Squaw Peak Drive to Piestawa Peak Drive,
I support the renaming of these streets.
Please change the name. Arizona is home to one of the largest Indigenous tribes in America and yet we still have names that belittle, degrade and humiliate. Honor the lands you live on by re-naming them to the Indigenous tribes of Arizona who have already given up so much. Thank you.
We already renamed Piestewa Peak Mountain in honor of a fallen hero. Renaming a street should be easy. Its a win-win, we're honoring the Native American culture and a fallen hero. Let's get this done so we can move on to other more challenging issues facing our city.
Phoenix resident since 2015 & an enrolled citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. As the mother of a young Native womxn growing up in this city, I am scared. The National Institute of Justice reported 4 in 5 American Indian/Alaska Native womxn (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime. Stats like these are perpetuated by the squaw stereotype/hypersexualization & exacerbate the violence. If changing a street name could prevent this, even a little, why wouldn’t we change the name?
I support changing the name to Piestewa Peak Drive. This name change has been discussed for years; it's just time to get it done. Let's be the city that shines a light on strong Native women, not the city that contributes to marginalizing Native women by using an offensive and derogatory term on a public street.
I support the city's action to initiate the process for removing the two offensive street names and consider replacing one with Piestewa Peak Drive and the other with either Freedom Street or Justice Street.
What is it the City Council is trying to solve? I implore our civic leaders not to fall into the trap of doing what is easy, but doing something that will positively impact our community. We are faced with REAL problems that require effort to solve. Let's focus on the core issues and solve them.
I favor the City Council taking action to begin the name changing process. Thank you
The average American family moves every 3-5 years. Changing these street names mean a few score households will have one more address change than they otherwise would have - and the US Post Office and the City will be doing most of the actual work. Robert E. Lee was a traitor and the word “Squaw” is widely recognized as racist. Make the change
I support the city's action item to change offensive street names. Diversity is such a beautiful component of any thriving community and should be encouraged and supported as an intrinsic value. Racist and oppressive nomenclatures continuously harm and traumatize members of our community and does not reflect the values of most Phoenicians.
I support the move to evaluate and change offensive street names. We do not need to glorify oppressors or racism. Erasing history?? As if street nomenclatures are teaching history - these people do not exist because their names are on a pole, I do not know Robert E. Lee because I read his name on a pole... but putting their names on poles DOES glorify them. So they need to be removed.
What is there to debate? The adjacent street to my home, travelled frequently by tourists & City residents to hiking trails, is offensive to Native Americans & reinforces derogatory language & historical oppression. Neighbors who oppose the change have stated "street name nostalgia"--what is that? Or, they're burdened w altering checking accounts or property deeds. They argue the word "squaw" is actually not offensive. Wikipedia: https://tinyurl.com/y9md75qe. You decide. Let's move forward.
I support the city's action to review offensive street names. We should be celebrating the diversity of our city and making it a safe place for all who live here. Offensive street names create a sense of lack of safety for those who have experienced historical trauma. We need to honor our past without continuing to harm people of color and women who have suffered discrimination and physical and emotional harm. We can do better.
One of the most admirable goals of this mayor and council has been to create a “Phoenix that works for everyone”- from economic development to social justice. When our place names offend members of our community because they reflect historical oppression, then these names don’t work for everyone. The term “squaw” in particular is deeply offensive to many Native Americans. The Az Center for Women’s Advancement stands with Native Women and urges the council to support the renaming process.
This is part of a disturbing national trend to denigrate or erase people from our history . For removing Robert E. Lee, the reason is that "his namesake is offensive and derogatory". Robert E. Lee described slavery as "a moral and political evil." Lee was an opponent of secession but choose to fight on the side of his state of Virginia. The Civil War was initiated by the South in order to preserve self-governance. My main concern is the precedent that this action provides for future efforts.