We unveiled ceremonial street sign toppers for Josephine “Chepa” Andrade Way and Lydia Romero-Cruz Way on Thursday, March 7, at Logan and Stafford streets as part of the ceremonial street naming program. The Santa Ana City Council created this program to recognize outstanding individuals who have made a significant impact on their communities.
Josephine “Chepa” Andrade lived in the Logan neighborhood her entire life until she passed away in 2006. Ms. Andrade was a community activist and known for gathering signatures for petitions and encouraging neighbors to attend City Hall meetings. In the late 1980s, she took the lead in a newly formed Logan Neighborhood Committee to stop the rezoning of the family-oriented neighborhood into an industrial park. She received many recognitions and awards for her community involvement and for efforts to fight poverty, homelessness, injustice and hunger. Her ceremonial signs are installed along Logan Street at the intersections of Washington Avenue and Stafford Street.
Lydia Romero-Cruz made a profound and lasting impact on children in Santa Ana. Ms. Romero-Cruz, who lived in the Logan Neighborhood, passed away in April 1996 at age 35. Ms. Romero-Cruz was well respected in her field as a bilingual teacher and lectured on language development. She gave back to her community by teaching new generations of students and encouraging Spanish dual immersion programs in schools. In 1997, after her passing, Ms. Romero-Cruz was awarded the “We Honor Ours” (WHO) Award from the California Teachers Association. The Ceremonial “Lydia Romero-Cruz Way” signs are installed along Lincoln Avenue at the intersections of Washington Avenue and Stafford Street.
Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Councilmember Phil Bacerra and Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez were joined by representatives from the office of Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, the Andrade family, the Romero-Cruz family and other community members for the unveiling of the ceremonial street sign toppers.