Marybeth
Marybeth Bowman
Part-Time Planner | Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street, 9th Floor
San José, CA 95113
Office: 408-793-4305
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FW: City Council Meeting 10/27, Agenda Item 7.1 (Renaming of Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park) From City Clerk <[email protected]>
Date Fri 10/16/2026 12:05 PM
To Agendadesk <[email protected]>
From: Tod
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2026 12:00 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District! <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; Districts <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council Meeting 10/27, Agenda Item 7.1 (Renaming of Plaza de Cesar Chavez Pa rk) [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Mayor and City Council,
"Less is more."
While I originally backed the compromise name "Plaza de San Jose," which also received the highest survey support, it seems that name is no longer holding favor. It was actually never truly appropriate, and the commission's attempts to combine names have only made the process more confusing and divisive. This has led me to reconsider why we should settle on a name that does not fully serve such an important downtown landmark.
The downtown area is not represented by any single ethnic background, and a directive to honor one community over others is misguided. Balanced cultural representation is an appropriate consideration for a centrally located downtown park, even if it takes a safe approach. Regardless, the new name should encompass a broad civic identity. It is most important that our downtown act as an inclusive, welcoming space that reflects and values all the people of San Jose. Because of this, I am convinced that a simple, more universal and positive name is the best path forward.
With that in mind, I suggest you designate it a "Plaza" as a nod to its original roots, and limit the new name to just two words (with one of the words being "Plaza"). Then, re-task the San Jose Parks and Recreation Commission to research and narrow the options to the choices that would best highlight our downtown and city.
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Potential name examples (from online forums): Community Plaza, Downtown Plaza, Harmony Plaza, Innovation Plaza, Market Plaza, Orchard Plaza, Plaza Park, San José Plaza (three words), The Plaza, or Unity Plaza, etc.
There are many viable possibilities for neutral and/or uplifting alternatives that could better unite us.
If you cannot implement these parameters to select a new name, the survey leader should be chosen. Combination names feel desperate and sound awkward. Please put extra thought into naming this park, as it is a jewel in the center of San José.
Thank you,
Tod Williams
Vendome Neighborhood - D3