The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously to formally consider renaming two of its local roadways in September 2020, as some believed them offensive and racist. 

Robert E. Lee Street was named for, as one might suspect, Robert Edward Lee, the commander who led the Confederates during the American #CivilWar. The decision to change its name came on the heels of protests demanding the removal of several statues and monuments that were said to commemorate racist aspects of American history. On March 1, 2021, it was officially renamed Desert Cactus Street. 

Squaw Peak Drive was renamed because its former name, as was later explained. Still, the US Board on Geographic Names "has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women." Its name was changed to Piestewa Peak Drive.

Detractors of the motion to change the street names expressed concerns about the potential confusion and hard costs renaming would end up having on residents and business owners who needed to alter their mailing addresses on bills, letterheads, and other essential documents. To that end, the City of Phoenix has agreed to pay for any expenses incurred through the process, and there is no deadline to submit a request for reimbursement.

Supporters of renaming the streets contend that it is a way to bring a voice to those whose ancestry includes oppression and racial inequity and reclaim spaces linked to a troubled past. They say that while it does not set things right, it is at least a step in the right direction.

The question up for debate: Should Phoenix have changed street names that were considered by some to be offensive and racist?