City votes to change Yawkey Way back to Jersey Street

BOSTON — The City of Boston has voted to change the name of Yawkey Way.

After multiple delays, the commission voted unanimously Thursday to change the name of Yawkey Way back to its original Jersey Street.

The Red Sox organization initially petitioned the city to change the name of the street outside the ballpark from Yawkey Way back to the previous name of Jersey Street weeks ago.

The late Tom Yawkey, a former team owner, has been called racist by some, in part over the long delayed racial integration of the ball club.

”I’m happy to now see I can go to Fenway Park and not pass thru Yawkey Way," Walter Carrington from the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination said.

Defenders of the Yawkey name believe the name change would harm the reputation of the philanthropic Yawkey Foundation.

The Yawkey Foundation released a statement expressing its disappointment with Thursday's vote:

"We are deeply disappointed with today's decision by the City's Public Improvement Commission to grant John Henry's petition to rename Yawkey Way at Fenway Park.
 
As we have said throughout this process, the effort to expunge Tom Yawkey's name has been based on a false narrative about his life and his historic 43-year ownership of the Red Sox. The drastic step of renaming the street, now officially sanctioned by the City of Boston (and contradicting the honor the City bestowed upon Tom Yawkey over 40 years ago), will unfortunately give lasting credence to that narrative and unfairly tarnish his name, despite his unparalleled record of transforming the Red Sox and Fenway Park and supporting the city he loved through his philanthropy.
 
We have always acknowledged that it is regrettable that the Red Sox were the last Major League baseball team to integrate. We also realize there were strong feelings in favor of renaming Yawkey Way based on that painful fact and other criticisms about the team's record concerning race and inclusivity. But we also believe that consideration of the whole story of the team's efforts to integrate and the full picture of Tom Yawkey's life more than justified keeping the name Yawkey Way. 
 
The Yawkey Foundations will carry on the mission of Tom and his wife, Jean, a legacy of giving that has provided more than $300 million to organizations throughout Boston. The charitable work he began when he was alive is as important as ever, and we will continue to focus our efforts on sustaining his dedication to helping those in need. 
 
We want to thank those who supported us in opposing the name change, especially our grantees, many of whom have proudly put the Yawkey name on the buildings and facilities made possible by gifts from the Foundations. We also appreciate the countless e-mails, phone calls and notes we received asking, as we did, why the Red Sox would seek to dishonor a man who did so much for the team and the City.
 
This a sad day for all of us at the Foundations. Tom Yawkey deserved to have his name live on at Fenway Park. We can't change today's decision, but we remain hopeful that he will be remembered as the good and decent man he truly was."

The City of Boston Public Improvement Commission has the final say over street names.

About a month ago, the commission took in two hours of heated opinions from both sides before tabling the issue.

Two weeks ago, the Red Sox organization sent a letter standing by its petition, but asking for a delay in the vote so the public would have more time to weigh in.

Just last week, team president Sam Kennedy told sports radio station WEEI the Sox still want the street name changed.

“Today’s vote is an important step in our ongoing effort to make Fenway Park a place where everyone feels welcome," the Red Sox said in a statement after the announcement.

The MBTA is expected to follow suit and change the name of the Yawkey Way Commuter Rail stop as well.

MORE: Officials delay vote on Yawkey Way name change

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