For over a century, the most prominent traffic circle in New Orleans has been commonly known as "Lee Circle.” While its legal name is "Tivoli Circle" no signs currently indicate this, even after the statue of Robert E. Lee was removed in 2017. In this critical national moment, it is time to retire General Lee from our city center and we need help from our City's leaders.  

We the undersigned request that Mayor Cantrell direct the City's Department of Public Works to erect street signs reflecting the true legal name of this area so that our city can begin to reclaim this prominent space from the Lost Cause movement. Since Tivoli Circle is already the legal name of this area, erecting signs in the area should require no City Council action. 

The word Tivoli derives its origin from the river Tiber, which runs through the City of Rome. Describing a natural feature, it is a commonly used place name in many global cities and bears no ties or associations to any one person or agenda. As we debate and discuss the future of this important public space, we can ensure that today, this area bears no further ties to Robert E. Lee or the dark past that he represented. It is time to turn the page on Lee Circle.