Sikhs Want To Change Name Of Stockton Street To Honor Temple

STOCKTON (CBS13) - Stockton temple members want to get rid of grant street and rename the half-mile stretch Sihk Temple Street, but some neighbors are not receptive to the idea.

It's the oldest existing Sikh temple in the country. It stands tall in the heart of its south Stockton neighborhood - and has done so for a century.

The temple is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, so leaders want to change its address from 1930 Grant Street to 1930 Sikh Temple Street and use the name from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulvard all the way to Sixth Street.

But Ronnie Cunnigham says temple leaders are taking the name change too far.

"It's going to be an uphill battle, all the way," he told CBS13 on Monday. "Actually, what you are doing is trying to force your religion on other people. That's a no-no, I don't care what religion you are, and that's what they are trying to do."

He suggests naming the driveway Sikh Temple Street, not the half mile stretch of Grant Street.

Other longtime homeowners say people in the neighborhood are from all walks of life and only a few attend temple. But all are forced to deal with parking headaches that come along with the annual Sikh parade, which attracts more than 20,000 people.

Neighbors also say the temple is expanding.

"Since this is the first one they built, a lot of people, the crowds are getting bigger," Richard Rubio said. "They buy all the houses, then knock them down. They tried to buy it. I'm not selling it."

Stockton's Planning Commission will discuss the name change next month.