The city of Los Angeles has renamed Rodeo Road 'Barack Obama Boulevard' as a tribute to the 44th US President.
The newly-titled road was unveiled on Saturday May 4 (local time), with a concert and ceremony.
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Obama Boulevard is the latest to join the 'presidential row' honouring past presidents Jefferson, Adams, and Washington.
The Los Angeles City Council voted in favour of renaming Rodeo Road in celebration of Obama in August last year.
Rodeo Road holds particular significance as it was the location of Obama's first visit to Los Angeles as a presidential candidate.
The 2007 rally took place at Rancho Cienega Park in the largely black neighbourhood.
Residents of the community responded well to the tribute, with some suggesting a longer and more prominent street should have honoured the former president.
Reverend Russell Thornhill from South Los Angeles told KABC TV: "I get to live in a lifetime where we elected our first black president.
"I called [my mother] before I came here to let her know what I was doing, and she was just in tears because she was seeing in her lifetime ... the naming of a street of the first black president in this community."
Some residents have expressed hope that the name change will raise the profile of the road, helping to generate increased funding for the Crenshaw and Baldwin Hills neighbourhoods.
African-American businesses in the Crenshaw neighbourhood had long-thrived before a recent downturn, inspiring increased renovation efforts in the area, the Daily Mail reported.
Political analyst and author, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, has lived in the area for 50 years. He hopes the name change will lead to increased development in the neighbourhood, reported the Daily Mail.
"The area needs not just [a] street name change, but also fresh programmes, initiatives and spending on jobs, education, and housing programmes for the mostly black and Hispanic low-income residents that live on or near Obama Boulevard.
"This will truly be the greatest way to pay tribute to Obama."
Newshub.
