Phoenix Approves New Names For Squaw Peak Drive and Robert E. Lee Street

Mayor Kate Gallego announced Wednesday the two names that'll replace Squaw Peak Drive and Robert E. Lee Street.

Robert E. Lee Street will become Desert Cactus Street and Squaw Peak Drive will become Piestewa Peak Drive, the mayor said on Twitter.

The Phoenix City Council approved the new names on Wednesday, and they'll go into effect on March 1, 2021.

"We are looking forward to having street names that reflect our values. We don't want shadows of the confederacy, or for a young girl ... to see that street name as they drive to school or about in our community," Gallego told the Arizona Republic.

Phoenix residents and leaders have tried for years to get the city to change the derogatory street names. Lee was a Confederate general while squaw is a slur used against Native American women.

Desert Cactus Street and Piestawa Peak Drive were chosen after homeowners on the two streets ranked their top five choices, AZFamily reported.

Like the nearby mountain, Piestewa Peak Drive is named after Army Spc. Lori Ann Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military and the first woman killed in the Iraq War in 2003.

"At the end of the day, it is an honor to a woman who was an American hero. It makes logical sense to make the roadway going up to the mountain, to have her name on it," Council member Sal DiCiccio said.

Photo: Getty Images