Supes Just Say No to “Mount Reagan”

Mount Diablo remains the same name

The effort to rename of of the Bay Area's most prominent peaks hit a dead end with lawmakers.

Oakley resident Arthur Mijares wants to change the name of Mount Diabo because he believes the word "Diablo," Spanish for "devil," is "derogatory and profane." Instead, the devout Christian says, the 3,864-foot high landmark should be called "Mount Reagan" in honor of the late president.

The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors on Monday formally recommended the county oppose the issue, saying they have heard strong opinions against the idea.

Supervisor Gayle Uilkema, of Lafayette, has received about 50 emails from constituents, mostly opposing the idea, saying the landmark should remain Mount Diablo.

People have even been stopping them in the community, begging them not to change the peak's name, Uikema and another supervisor said.

"No matter where I went this past weekend, someone would grab me by the shoulder and say 'Don't do that. Don't change the name of Mount Diablo,'" Uilkema told the Contra Costa Times.

Many people also weighed in on the story on local blogs and on NBC Bay Area's previous story about the name change proposal. One of them from a commenter called AGIANTIRISHNINER summarizes the vast majority of the opinions quite plainly: "You gotta be kidding me."

The full board of supervisors is to hear public comment and may vote on the petition on Feb. 23.

Feel free to leave your opinions on the name change proposal in the comments field below.

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