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# Group wants city to name main library after King
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/group-wants-city-to-name-main-library-after-king/
- Published: 2002-05-17T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:17:15.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: local, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Council positive toward naming library for King*

A westside organization wants Santa Monica to rename its main library after infamous civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

“As a city, we recognize the power of naming public buildings and the power they portray to the public,” said Michelle Wittig, president of the Martin Luther Jr. Westside Coalition. “But Santa Monica has no place to honor the most distinguished American leader of the 20th century civil rights movement.”

Current plans call for the city to spend $50 million to demolish and rebuild the main library building, located at the corner of Sixth Street and Santa Monica Boulevard.

The new building will have more “park-like settings,” a courtyard with an independently operated cafe and three levels of subterranean parking that will accommodate 600 vehicles.

Plans for the project are expected to come before the city council in July. The structure now is known as the Santa Monica Main Library.

Wittig pointed out that the city has named several parks and civic buildings after former mayors and council members and the school district has named several schools after famous figures in American history.

In 2000, when the city initiated several new construction projects — including redeveloping the civic center area and creating a new main library building — the city council voted to name one of its new buildings after King, who was assassinated in 1968.

“This is an important juncture,” said Councilman Richard Bloom. “The public should take this opportunity to tell the council how they feel about using this naming opportunity.”

Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown whole-heartedly endorsed the idea of naming the new library after King.

“When we pursue excellence in education and erect affordable housing, we do Martin’s work,” he said. “When we fight for a just and true living wage, we do Martin’s work.”

And state Senator Sheila Kuehl (D- Santa Monica) sent a representative to read a letter endorsing the naming.

“I believe adding Martin Luther King Jr.’s name to the Santa Monica Library would be a great benefit to the city and to the library,” she wrote. “Santa Monica has always been a very progressive, down-to-earth city and I believe adding Martin Luther King’s name to the library would surely enhance that perception.”

Councilwoman Pam O’Connor said even though King would be a fine choice to name the new library, she thought more names from history should be researched first.

“I think there are many naming opportunities and we should look into all of them,” she said.

City manager Susan McCarthy said her department is investigating how other cities go about naming their civic buildings.

“The city is completing a series of ambitious public works projects over roughly the next four years,” McCarthy said. “So we are approaching a lively period of naming opportunities.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 17, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051702.pdf?ref=smdp.com)