Five New Orleans City Council members want to create a commission that will run a public process for renaming streets, parks, and places in New Orleans that honor white supremacists.
"The Commission will consist of nine members with each Councilmember appointing one member who must have a formal or informal background of the history and geography of New Orleans," the city council announced today. "Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Planning Commission will appoint the remaining two members."
According to the council, the commission will serve for one year, gathering input. It must hold its first public meeting within three months of being created.
The council wants the commission to make the following recommendations:
- A list of streets, parks, and places that should be renamed, accompanied by a detailed explanation.
- A proposed list of replacement names for each recommended street, park, or place, accompanied by a detailed explanation.
- A process to facilitate both educating residents and receiving public feedback on the proposed changes.
The legislation is being proposed by Councilmembers Joe Giarrusso, Jay Banks, Kristin Gisleson Palmer, Jared Brossett, and Cyndi Nguyen.
Councilmembers at-large Helena Moreno and Jason Williams have already suggested renaming Jefferson Davis Parkway, named after the president of the Confederacy, to honor Dr. Norman Francis, former president of Xavier University.
