In the Lucerne Valley, just north of Rabbit Springs Road, there is a summit with the grossly offensive name of Pickaninny Buttes. I can find no reason to keep this harmful name. If anything, it brings an unnecessary notoriety to the area since it listed in many different list of places with racist names.

I have submitted a proposal to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to change the name to a more benign name that, at least, has significance to the history of the community. Lucerne Valley was named from the British variation of the French Luzerne in reference to the alfalfa that the area's founder, James Goulding, successfully grew using an irrigation system.

My proposal would change the name from Pickaninny Buttes to Alfalfa Buttes. The name proposal ID is 9678 and, if you would like to add your voice to this petition, you can e-mail them at BGNEXEC@usgs.gov or call them at (703) 648-4552.

However, simply adding your name to this petition would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration.