Should Balboa Park Have a Statue of Its Namesake?

It’s a hotly debated topic among different ethnic groups in San Diego: Should Balboa Park have a statue for Vasco Núñez de Balboa? The famous 16th century Spanish explorer is who the park is named after. “Vasco Núñez de Balboa is credited as the first Spaniard, the first European, to discover the Pacific Ocean,” said Jesus Benayas, President of the House of Spain located in Balboa Park. “There is no statue of Balboa in Balboa Park.”  Thieves Give Woman Their Phone Number Before Taking Wallet Benayas said he has been trying for five years to erect a statue of Balboa. He wants to put it near the Palisades Tram Stop as a tribute to the historical figure.But the city has rejected the notion due to disapproval from various local groups.  Want Wine Delivered to Your Door? “For us to buy into the placing of that statue is going against everything we’ve been taught,” said Steve Banegas, spokesman for the Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Committee. Banegas said his tribe has been living in the area for thousands of years.  National City Proceeds With Lawsuit Against Bernie Sanders Campaign For Payment “[Balboa] didn’t discover anything,” said Banages. “We were here. Our ancestors were here. I would like to see the whole name of that park change because there were real villages there, there were real people there.” Do you think Balboa Park should have a statue of the explorer? 
Source: NBC San Diego