Local News in Brief : Anaheim : Council Delays Action on ‘Karcher Way’ Name

The City Council voted Tuesday for the third time to delay a politically sticky decision on whether to rename a portion of an Anaheim street after Carl N. Karcher, owner of the Carl’s Jr. hamburger chain.

The Karcher group proposed renaming the segment of Romneya Drive where Karcher’s headquarters are located as “Karcher Way.” But the request drew unexpected opposition from Alex Morales Jr., owner of Alex Foods Inc., whose offices are also on Romneya.

In a letter to the City Council, Morales argued that the change would have a “detrimental effect” on his firm’s corporate identity.

Representatives from the two corporations have met to try to work out a compromise, but Tuesday the council was told that no agreement has been reached. Council members have expressed a desire not to favor either of the corporations and so voted to delay action for another 60 days.

“I would rather the two sides resolve the problem between themselves rather than have the council vote on this,” Councilman Irv Pickler said.

But Mayor Ben Bay said he has no doubts on the matter: “I have thought from the very beginning that we should have gone ahead with this. I don’t understand what all the debate is about if the council chooses to honor the Karcher family and all they have done.”