Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez led an unveiling Wednesday for the Gloria Molina Legacy Pathway, in honor of the late politician who was the first Latina elected to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the City Council and the state Assembly.
The ceremony was held on what would have been Molina’s 75th birthday. Molina, 74, died on Mother’s Day after battling cancer for three years.
“I have to say this is probably by far the best present anyone could have given her; the fact that the crosswalk is going to be colored purple … I don’t think she would have ever imagined it in her wildest dreams,” said Valentina Martinez, Molina’s daughter.
“I think that this is such a beautiful gift for her and her legacy and something she would have just loved. She would have really, really loved it,” Martinez said.
Rodriguez and Martinez were joined by other council members, relatives of Molina and former staff members.
Molina was “a powerful Chicana that spoke truth to power, unapologetically taking on powerful interest for the good of the people,” Rodriguez said. “She was a trailblazer whose her-story-making work and legacy will be celebrated daily by those that walk the path through Grand Park from the halls of county government to the city.”
The City Council previously approved the following four crosswalk installations between Temple and First Street named to honor Molina’s legacy:
— The crosswalk on Grand Avenue will be named the Gloria Molina Legacy Pathway;
— The crosswalk on North Hill Street will be named the Gloria Molina Legacy Pathway — First Latina Elected to the California State Legislature;
— The crosswalk on North Broadway will be named the Gloria Molina Legacy Pathway — First Latina elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors”;
— The crosswalk on North Spring Street will be named the Gloria Molina Legacy Pathway — First Latina elected to the Los Angeles City Council.
Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors renamed Grand Park in honor of Molina. It’s now called Gloria Molina Grand Park.