All of this tension is emerging because of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, a major road which winds 40 miles from San Francisco Bay through the coastal North Bay hills.
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This week, the Fairfax Town Council voted for a name change to address Drake's problematic legacy.
RELATED: Sir Francis Drake statue removed in Marin County
Sir Francis Drake being the first white man to land on nearby shore carries less weight here than his past as a slave trader and his detrimental impact on local Native Americans.
The council wants to call the road the Coastal Miwok Trail, at least within the borders of Fairfax.
Vice-Mayor Stephanie Hellman sees the Town Council as having made a moral decision.
"There are some things in the name of progress that just have to be done," Hellman says.
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Fairfax locals have begun signing an initiative against the name change.
"If they want to change the name, let's vote for it," suggested Fred Codoni.
RELATED: Name change underway at San Anselmo's Sir Francis Drake High School, district says
Marin County's Board of Supervisors will consider the issue on Tuesday.