Manchaca or Menchaca?

Some Council members, notably Council members Pio Renteria and Delia Garza, are absolutely positive that the name of the road that runs from South Lamar to Manchaca should be changed to honor a captain in the army that fought in the Texas Revolution at the battle of San Jacinto. His name was José Antonio Menchaca. Judge Bob Perkins has been arguing for at least 20 years that the road was misnamed Manchaca and the error should be corrected. However, Council Member Ann Kitchen, and her colleague Leslie Pool, are not so sure. Kitchen said during Tuesday’s work session that she had been contacted by a Manchaca business owner who had contacted other business owners to see whether they knew about the proposed name change that is scheduled to happen this Thursday after a public hearing. It turns out they didn’t, and he contacted Kitchen’s office about his concerns. City staff said that they had reached out to property owners along the road to let them know about the proposed change and seek their opinions. However, less than 4 percent of them responded. Kitchen wondered if city staff could have done more – or if it still could. Pool argued that she had a letter from a constituent who believes the name is a Choctaw Indian name for a source of drinking water called “Manchac Springs.” The letter writer, Robert Amoroso, owner of Manchaca Village Veterinary Care, argues at length that the word should remain the same and that there is no known association between the springs and Captain Menchaca.