A portion of a Richmond street might be renamed to ‘Dalai Lama Avenue.”
The Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) has requested that the city rename a roughly one-block stretch where it operates a cultural center — on Huntington Avenue between Columbia Avenue and San Joaquin Street — after the world-famous spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
Councilmember Eduardo Martinez is expected to request his colleagues’ support for the renaming at the next council meeting Tuesday. The name change was approved by the city’s Recreation and Parks Commission on Aug. 7.
The new street name would recognize the 14th Dalai Lama, leader of six million Tibetans and recipient of hundreds of awards for his promotion of global peace and compassion, from honorary doctorates to the Nobel Peace Prize, according to city documents. On July 16, the Richmond council declared July 6 “Dalai Lama Day” to honor his 84th birthday.
In the application for the street name change, TANC President Tenzin Rangdol called the Dalai Lama “a global leader who is deeply admired.”
But that sentiment wasn’t the only reason the Recreation and Parks Commission has recommended the street name change.
“TANC has produced compelling information including a signed petition of almost all of the residents of that street length,” said Maryn Hurlbut, commission chair, in a letter to city council and Mayor Tom Butt.
Hurlbut suggested having the new name installed, with funding by TANC or the city, above the existing Hunting Avenue sign, as was done for Galileo Club Way.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled the street set to be renamed. The story has been updated to include the correct name.
