SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to keep the name Enrique M. Barrera Parkway and not change it back to Old Highway 90.
The city's Planning Commission had recommended the name change during the summer, but council members shot down the idea.
During the public comment portion of Thursday's City Council meeting, about a dozen people told council members to "give them back their Old Highway 90" for the historical name and to clear up GPS tracking issues. But some people also spoke in favor of keeping the Enrique M. Barrera name to honor the former councilman.
Councilman Ray Lopez, who initially pushed to change the name of the highway to Enrique M. Barrera Parkway in 2015, said Thursday that the U.S. Postal Service will recognize both highway names and deliver mail to both names. He added that Enrique M. Barrera Parkway is a sign of revitalization in the westside community.
"I think we did as best as we could to be able to address the concerns," Lopez said. "While not perfect and not being able to address them wholeheartedly on every front, I think we addressed them to the best of our ability."
But a group of residents and business owners who raised $32,000 for the application for the name change back to Old Highway 90 were disappointed.
"It's just a great injustice," said Michael Cooremans, owner of 4M Auto Supply. "I mean, I don't have any faith in the democracy system. We had valid points. The businesses are suffering with the name change."
Cooremans said business owners and westside community members will continue the fight to rename the highway.
