Seccom Lake renaming

A descendant of enslaved pioneers, Wilson opposed renaming the lake but urged that Ignacio Lopez be honored at the Perris Hill Plunge for fighting segregation, and called for more historical signage citywide.

The radio station owner and past Native Sons president argued the Seccum family's service is unmatched, that Mayor Seccum desegregated city facilities 24 years before the civil rights movement, and that renaming the park would be a disservice.

The 35-year attorney argued "Lopez v. Seccum" was just a lawsuit shorthand naming one plaintiff and one of eight defendants, that the application contains no facts supporting racism by the Seccums, and warned against depriving the city of its history.

The UC Santa Cruz history major said there's already too little documented San Bernardino history, saw no direct racism in the Seccum case, noted renaming would cost money better spent elsewhere, and praised the city's diversity.

The Historical and Pioneer Society board member said the city has already lost too much history and asked the commission not to erase another piece by renaming Seccom Lake.

The longtime local history columnist, speaking for the Historical and Pioneer Society, said a name is a historic element worth preserving and no compelling evidence had been offered for removing it; he also described the society's park historic-element database work.