West Sacramento will soon see new street names as the city moves to remove racially insensitive terms from addresses. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names approved renaming two streets that included the word "squaw," which many find offensive to Native American women, according to the City of West Sacramento website.
The streets formerly known as Sq_Road and Sq_Court will be renamed "Tebti," meaning "the streams that flow together," honoring the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. This change goes beyond a simple name update, addressing a colonial legacy and bringing justice to 40 affected households. The renaming, prompted by AB 2022, was unanimously approved by the City Council on July 17 and received final state approval on Thursday last week, as per the City of West Sacramento.
City staff will soon send letters to residents of the renamed streets, offering guidance on updating their addresses with agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. The process is expected to be completed by early 2025, according to the City of West Sacramento.
Deputy City Manager Jon Robinson expressed gratitude for collaborating with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and local residents to rename streets with the offensive "sq_" term, as required by AB 2022. The new name, "Tebti," proposed by the Tribal Council, reflects a step towards inclusivity and respect for marginalized Indigenous communities. With the renaming set for January 2025, the City of West Sacramento moves forward from its history of insensitive street names.
