Confederate Ave. changed to Maggie Mayes St. in Austin

Confederate Avenue, sometimes seen as Confederate Street, has been changed to Maggie Mayes Street by City Council in efforts to remove references to the Confederacy throughout the city.

The motion was approved on consent and was originally proposed by District 9 Council Member Kathie Tovo’s office.

In February, Tovo said as with other women in history and especially women of color, they did not have enough information on her. She continued saying that she hoped this effort would help rediscover her achievements within the city.

Maggie Mayes was an educator in the Clarkesville freedman community. In a letter to City Council, the West Austin Neighborhood Group said “Maggie Mayes' commitment to the education of her community’s children makes her worthy of prominent recognition.”

The cost to make new street signs, $281.97, will be a part of the operating budget for the Signs and Markings Division of the Austin Transportation Department. On April 1, all of the property owners on the street were notified about the proposal to change the street name, two of them opposing the change.