After three years of campaigning, San Jose community advocates have won the city council's approval to rename a downtown street in honor of former President Barack Obama.
One of those advocates, Alex, said that for him, the new signs reading "Barack Obama Boulevard" will serve as a source of inspiration.
"It can send a signal that no matter who you are or where you come from in San Jose, you can achieve your dreams," he added.
The city council voted unanimously to approve the renaming earlier this week.
University of San Francisco Professor of Politics James Taylor told KCBS Radio that the decision comes at an interesting moment in American history.
"It reflects the diversity, and the change, and the 'browning' that's happened in California and in the country," he said.
Especially meaningful, Taylor added, is the fact that this gesture honoring the country's first African American president is taking place in the highly diverse South Bay city.
"San Jose making the change for him is probably one of the best gestures towards the acceptance of a new America going forward that would bring together brown and Black and white and young people," he said.
Portions of Bird Ave., South Montgomery St., South Autumn St. and North Autumn St. are set to be renamed to Barack Obama Blvd., according to the city.
