Another attempt to rename The Paseo for Martin Luther King Jr.? KC voters have spoken
Kansas City’s turbulent search for a street to name for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may soon hit another rough patch.
Some Kansas City ministers are thought to be discussing plans to try again to rename The Paseo for the fallen civil rights leader. In November 2019, after a multiyear debate, Kansas City voters soundly rejected that idea.
But some East Side leaders don’t think the proposal truly failed. They argue that voters might be more willing to endorse the move this November, when turnout would be higher. The reaction to the death of George Floyd might and the current focus on racism and inequality could also play a role.
Confusion over the ballot question could be clarified, they say.
Last week, Rev. Vernon Howard of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City announced that his group opposes renaming the J.C. Nichols Parkway for King.
“J.C. Nichols Parkway has not been an enrichment to Black business and entrepreneurship in any significant way,” he said.
This week, Howard offered a pointed “no comment” to questions about whether making another push for renaming The Paseo is currently under discussion.
At the same time, he said, “we believe that The Paseo is the best location” to memorialize King.
It isn’t yet clear how the issue might resurface. The City Council could be asked to put it on the November ballot, or a petition drive could be launched. Time is short: November ballot proposals must be finalized by Aug. 25.
Naming a prominent Kansas City street or boulevard for King is long overdue. We strongly supported renaming The Paseo for King.
But trying again would be unwise. If there is a need to name a street for Martin Luther King — and there is — it should not be The Paseo.
The most important reason is the most obvious: The voters have spoken. Roughly 70% of voters, including many living on The Paseo, voted against the name change. Their message was clear.
No one should doubt Rev. Howard’s good faith, or that of other ministers, in continuing to push King’s name for The Paseo. But their 2019 campaign was lackluster and disorganized. There was little grassroots energy for the cause. At the same time, opponents were able to communicate their concerns.
If Kansas City tries to rename The Paseo again, and it fails again, the overdue effort to rename something for King could be buried for years. Kansas City already has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the only major cities in the country without a street named for King, so we can’t afford another failed attempt or an extended delay.
Kansas City business leaders have endorsed the process of renaming J.C. Nichols Parkway near the Country Club Plaza for King, . So have we. It’s a prominent Kansas City street adjacent to one of the most-visited parts of the community. It can serve as a link between the East Side and midtown, while erasing the name of a developer who did much to segregate our city.
On Wednesday, the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners will hold another public hearing on renaming J.C. Nichols Parkway for King and renaming the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. The board should approve both changes as quickly as possible.
If renaming the parkway isn’t possible, Kansas Citians should continue the work of finding a suitable memorial for Martin Luther King Jr., whose importance and stature are ever more consequential today.
They must look beyond The Paseo, though, to find it.
Editor’s note: This editorial originally misstated the position of Kansas City business leaders on the renaming process. This version of the text has been updated.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.