Blacks Firm in Support of Street Named for King

Black church leaders joined black business owners Thursday in support of the San Diego City Council’s decision to rename Market Street as Martin Luther King Way. They opposed placing the issue on the November ballot.

“To take the signs down would send a message to cities across this nation that we as America’s finest city would not be proud of,” said the Rev. J. Linzie Whitmill of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

“For the council to change positions is no guarantee that they will not be challenged for any other street,” Whitmill said. “It must be realized that we do have black businesses on the street, too, who would go through the same effects as other businesses.”

The Keep Market Street Committee, made up of mostly white business owners on the street, along with others opposed to the name change, have said their opposition is based on the historical significance of Market Street. The merchants also complained that the name change will cost them money for reprinted stationary.

Black business owners said at the Thursday press conference at the Urban League of San Diego that the community should make the sacrifice in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

“Progress touches the historical, the financial, the business arena, and the residents,” Whitmill said. “There is a cost.”

Several opponents of the council’s decision have suggested Imperial Avenue and California 94 as alternatives to renaming Market Street.

“Many of you may think that the group Keep Market Street is representative of a majority of the businesses on Market Street,” said Gloria Vinson, vice president and general manager of San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, a newspaper. “This simply is not true.

“Those business owners had every opportunity to be heard before the decision was made.

“There are twice as many businesses on Imperial Avenue. The business owners would be twice as burdened.”

The City Council voted in April to rename the street. Council members will hear further public testimony at Monday’s council meeting before deciding whether the item will be on the November ballot. In a 4-to-3 vote Monday, council members voted against putting it on the ballot, but the vote was short of a majority of the nine-member council. Balloting on the issue would reportedly cost the taxpayers $50,000.

A spokesman for Mayor Maureen O’Connor said Thursday that the mayor will make up her mind on the question after she hears the public testimony Monday.