As a State Representative for Cameron County, I respectfully submit this letter in opposition to the proposed renaming of Boca Chica Beach to “Cyber Beach.”
At a minimum, I respectfully request that the committee postpone consideration of this proposal to allow for meaningful public notice and input from the residents of Cameron County, many of whom were unaware that a name change had even been proposed.
Boca Chica Beach has been known by that name for generations. According to U.S. government records, the name dates back at least to 1936, and to my knowledge, the beach has never been officially known by any other name. While many residents affectionately refer to it as the People's Beach, that nickname complements rather than replaces its historic name. Boca Chica Beach is part of the cultural and historical identity of our community, and that identity deserves to be preserved.
State Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez of Brownsville.
The proposed name change would also create unnecessary, practical, and financial consequences. Numerous public roads, maps, signs, publications, and local landmarks reference Boca Chica Beach, including Boca Chica Boulevard, the state highway connecting Brownsville to the beach through my legislative district. Renaming the beach would inevitably require updates to public signage, maps, and official documents, imposing costs on local and state governments without any corresponding public benefit.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to reject the proposed name change and retain the historic name Boca Chica Beach. Alternatively, I request that the committee defer any action until the residents and local elected officials of Cameron County have been afforded a full and meaningful opportunity to provide public input.
Thank you for your consideration and for your service in preserving the integrity of our nation's geographic names.
Respectfully,
Erin Elizabeth Gámez
State Representative, House District 38.
Editor’s Note: The above letter was sent to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee by Texas state Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez of Brownsville, Texas.
