Which Street Should Become Cesar Chavez?
Round two of the Cesar Chavez streetstakes is about to commence. Supporters of the idea, having had a rough go of the Interstate proposal, now have three alternative streets in mind: 39th Avenue, Broadway, and Grand Avenue. Each has pros and cons:
- 39th Avenue. Pros: not a lot of inherent love for a numbered street; the fewest businesses of the three (122). Cons: Affects the most residences (1,265), isn't a particularly historic or important street.
- Broadway. Pros: For supporters, this is the most important street, cutting through the primest real estate in downtown Portland. Cons: Affects the most businesses by far (899); renames a historic street; creates discord with the city's bridge-naming nomenclature.
- Grand Ave. Pros: Affects the fewest residences (141). Cons: For supporters, this might be the least majestic of the suggested streets; renaming Grand recalls the bitter battle to rename Union MLK and affects the same city corridor; would affect the name of the Grand Avenue Historic Design zone.
Personally, I've always thought Broadway, as it doglegs through two quadrants, is a bizarre street. It's the only street that runs both N-S and E-W. Although it's not a part of the discussion right now, I would suggest renaming either end. That would preserve the integrity of the Broadway Bridge and its connection to its arterial street, and clarify the weird aimlessness of the current street. You could address two issues that way--everyone's a winner!
As for 39th and Grand--eh. Grand is a choked, industrial strip, and doesn't seem particularly honorific. Thirty-ninth is better, but it's a rather nondescript street. And changing the numbered streets could become a problem, particularly if we start naming the major crosstown thoroughfares.
Oh, one last thought: why Cesar Chavez? I like the idea of going local. While I supported MLK Ave, I was slightly mystified by renaming Portland Ave Rosa Parks. Isn't it far nicer to honor our own, as we did when we rechristened Front Naito Parkway? I'm not a great historian of Oregon's Latino heritage, but what about naming the street Cipriano Ferrel Avenue? He was the co-founder and first president of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United). Seems like linking an Oregonian into the renaming would create more energy, pride, and buy-in from the city.
Your thoughts?
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March 13, 2009 |
Jeff Alworth | Comments (103 so far)
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Comments
Posted by: Karol | Mar 13, 2009 2:59:23 PM
Jeff,
It's less about the street and more about the acknowledgement that a member of the Latino community did something of consequence for the ENTIRE community. I think that point is part of what underscores the want for a street.
For me, I don't care what street it is. It would be an honor for any street to bare the name Cesar Chavez Jr. The repercussions on businesses are few, as one can use the original street name for up to five years - lots of opportunity to reprint stationary. There is the arguement that if something is named, "Broadway Florist," it would ruin it's integrity. That is also a little strange. There are businesses named "Laurelhurst____" that are no where near that street name. There are many cases of that as well.
I hope this discussion doesn't devolve into something that divides the city like it did over Interstate. That would be a sad sight indeed.
Posted by: regulararmyfool | Mar 13, 2009 2:59:23 PM
I hope it does not wind up like Martin Luther King street names. Straight through the ghetto. In a strange town and want drugs, find Martin Luther King park, boulevard or street. Somewhere on these, there will be an open air drug store. I thought that the naming of streets for him should have been the main street. Period.
Posted by: Eric Parker | Mar 13, 2009 3:00:58 PM
None of them
Just because someone is famous somewhere else for something admirable, does not mean we can impose this idea on others, nor does it entitle us to do so for the sake of just doing it.
Are we THAT bored with our lives to do this?
Posted by: mp97303 | Mar 13, 2009 3:07:49 PM
Personally, I don't care IF they name a street after him or anyone else and if they do, which street it is.
I have a singular concern about renaming and that is the costs to businesses. For those of you who don't know, in the printing biz, volume purchases equate to large price discounts. It is not uncommon for a business to order several years of imprinted merch. if they can store it. I personally had a 220 sq ft storage unit separate from my businesses just to store these items.
I also encountered a proposed naming change while in AZ. This was a major business street. The city council didn't listen to our concerns until we started talking about suing for compensation to the tune of $5.8M. You see, even the smallest biz could have $2-3K in imprinted merch that would go to waste if the name changes.
Just something to think about...
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Mar 13, 2009 3:13:02 PM
For the record, I do support a rename. Street names reflect the growing, evolving values and priorities of a city. It's high time we had a city of names that reflected our whole history.
Of course, that said, we still have to decide which street. You'll notice I didn't include "none" as an answer to my title.
Posted by: jfwells | Mar 13, 2009 3:14:27 PM
I tend to agree with your one last thought, Jeff. Did Cesar Chavez ever set foot in Oregon? And really, why a street? Wouldn't a park be just as much of an honor? Or is it only an honor if it greatly inconveniences a whole bunch of other people?
Posted by: Eric Parker | Mar 13, 2009 3:17:22 PM
Not to mention, mp97303, the changes the common citizen would have to do would be even more. Banks and others entities now are beginning to charge their customers with fees just for even thinking of changing adresses. It is even worse with the DMV.
All this for someone who rarely, if ever, set foot in the State of Oregon. Just because he was famous for something admireable, does not entitle us to honor him in such a way that it imposes and disrupts our lives that is not very cost effective. to begin with.
Posted by: Eric Parker | Mar 13, 2009 3:25:33 PM
And just to humor Jeff...
SW Ankeny from Broadway to Park. Just two blocks. Few people impacted. That's it.
I agree with jfwells...a park is much more suitable.
Posted by: Cafe Today | Mar 13, 2009 3:31:00 PM
None of them should be renamed. This is silly. As Bojack pointed out last year, Cesar Chavez doesn't even have any connection with Portland, so why are we renaming a street for him? Let's move on to something more important.
Posted by: Jeff | Mar 13, 2009 3:32:49 PM
I can't think of a worse time to be spending city, business and individual resources and money on what will likely be a costly and disruptive endeavor. School days and resources are being slashed, unemployment is rising, but yes lets rename a street.
If we really want to honor Cesar Chavez and the Latino community, it should be in form of better jobs, education, health care and other social services, not a street. If anything should be named that comes close to exemplifying his great deeds, why not a park or some other public outdoor space.
Posted by: Sadie | Mar 13, 2009 3:52:16 PM
Instead of renaming a street how about naming the new library that is supposed to be opening in the Kenton neighborhood in honor of Cesar Chavez.
Posted by: Jamais Vu | Mar 13, 2009 3:52:58 PM
I'd prefer a park over a street--less renaming of businesses and fewer changes of address. Powell Park on Powell and 26th SE seems as good as any.
If it has to be a street, fine; but I find the numbered N-to-S running streets in Portland really convenient for finding your way around. I'd prefer they change the name of a named street, not a numbered one.
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Mar 13, 2009 4:15:54 PM
Before we get too far down the "Chavez ain't got nuthin to do with Oregon" road, note this:
Opponents of renaming a Portland street to honor Cesar Chavez often argue that the United Farm Workers leader had no connection to this area. But in August 1971, Chavez galvanized a statewide campaign against an Oregon anti-farmworker bill that ultimately shaped the legacy of both the state and one of its now-legendary politicians, former Gov. Tom McCall.Chavez got involved with Oregon politics after the state Legislature passed an anti-farmworker law. The bill was on McCall's desk, and he had a week to sign or veto it. Chavez dispatched Fred Ross Jr. and Jerry Cohen, the UFW's chief legal counsel, to Oregon and told them to mount an all-out campaign during that week.
There's more; you can go read it by following the link. Just an FYI--I don't think it's relevant whether he has an Oregon link. But there it is for those who wonder.
Posted by: Torridjoe | Mar 13, 2009 4:23:28 PM
I don't intend it to mean I wouldn't support a street rename, but why not the Farmer's Market? Could there be anything more appropriate? Create a semi-permanent entrance gate or something, rename it for all references and publicity, and create programming during the market to educate people about Chavez' life and work. Isn't that what we want--for the public to make the connection between the food on your plate and how it gets there?
Posted by: Torridjoe | Mar 13, 2009 4:24:58 PM
Ps I realize there would have to be some kind of PSU buyoff for any structure...
Posted by: Marshall Collins | Mar 13, 2009 4:37:31 PM
I have to agree that there are more cost effective and potentially "quicker" ways of naming something after Chavez. Here in The Eug one of our newest schools is Chavez Elementary. Our Main Bus Transit Station is Rosa Parks. There are two MLK streets. The first one is in Eugene. It is actually a Eugene/Springfield Arterial. Only Eugene changed over. Springfield decided not to due to costs for the city and business owners and instead decided to name a new street that was being built for MLK. We have the Pete DeFazio Bridge. Alton Baker Park. All sorts of things.
There are plenty of--what I would consider-- better ways of naming things in honor of great people in our history. Especially now when things are as cash-strapped as they are.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Mar 13, 2009 4:44:04 PM
I support naming something for Cesar Chavez. And I believe that it should be something substantial. And more than substantial, I believe it should be something that's part of the regional transportation network.
The whole point here is to name something that's always on the lips of large numbers of people. A building, statue, or park doesn't do that.
A street is one solution.
But I've got a better solution. We're about to build a brand-new bridge in Portland - a bridge that will connect the West Side with the East Side; a bridge that will connect the city with the suburbs; a bridge that will be both functional and beautiful; and a bridge that will carry pedestrians, bicycles, buses, and trains. (But not cars.)
We should name the new light rail bridge for Cesar Chavez.
I cannot think of anything that would honor Chavez and the Latino community better than naming Portland's newest bridge Cesar Chavez Bridge.
Here's the photos of possible designs, though I seem to recall that they've picked one of them now.
Posted by: eat the rich | Mar 13, 2009 4:46:08 PM
Make the change mean something. Rename NW Westover.
(for all the noobs in town, that's the street which starts above NW 23rd and snakes its way up the West Hills, some of the most expensive real estate in the city limits).
Posted by: Carl Fisher | Mar 13, 2009 5:22:26 PM
I still don't see why we can't name a park or create a park to honor him. At least then we'd be getting some green space out of the deal. He organized for farmers, there could be a community garden at the park.
The whole street thing seems more of an empty gesture to me. We really aren't doing much aside from changing some signs. And if folks insist on changing a street name, change one of the numbered streets. I have no attachment to numbers. Unless you try to change 69th street, 420th street, 666th street, 007th street, 3.14rd street....
Posted by: ValkRaider | Mar 13, 2009 5:22:55 PM
Don't rename anything.
Name new things after people - but leave the old stuff alone. We lose enough history as it is... America is so bad about just "deleting" history.
I hate that they renamed Portland Blvd. It was, after all, named after our city!
Of these, the only one I would even kind of sort of support is 39th. There is nothing really tied to 39th and we already have a few "named" streets in our number grid - one more wouldn't kill things.
But who the hell seriously considers naming a street after someone an "honor" ? How many people can tell me who Ainsworth, Ladd, Couch, Failing, Lovejoy, Hawthorne, Glisan, McLaughlin, or any other characters our streets are named after are, or what we are honoring them for? Only historians and nerds (like me) know this stuff. The vast majority don't. No one cares who those people were. But the streets have become a part of our community and our city and our landscape.
STOP CHANGING STREET NAMES - it erases history.
Posted by: Douglas K. | Mar 13, 2009 5:44:48 PM
Leave Broadway be. It's unique in that it's the only street that crosses NE, N, NW and SW Portland. The "weirdness" in that it runs both N/S (on the west side) and E/W (on the east side) is precisely the reason NOT to rename any part of it. How many cities in the world have a street that does that?
Posted by: Sean | Mar 13, 2009 6:51:43 PM
I suggest renaming Couch Street. It preserves the progressive alphabet street naming convention (there's got to be a better way to phrase that!) in downtown NW, and it relieves Portland residents of the question of whether to correct someone when they mispronounce it or to childishly snicker in silence.
Posted by: Zarathustra | Mar 13, 2009 7:03:18 PM
Grand. Don't rename 39th; make 42nd Douglas Adams Blvd.
Posted by: Zarathustra | Mar 13, 2009 7:06:58 PM
Oh, and Bush coming as it does between eminent personages and Presidents could leave a newbie with the impression that Portland named a street for a member of the Bush crime family. Very unseemly.
Posted by: Zarathustra | Mar 13, 2009 7:10:59 PM
Actually, are nominations closed? Why not rename Bush to Cesar Chavez? Kind of like Spain renaming all the streets that were named after Franco era fascists.
Posted by: George Anonymuncule Seldes | Mar 13, 2009 7:52:16 PM
None of the above. Let's name a park or a library or something of honor for him. A street is not something people love -- parks and libraries and things like that are.
Posted by: George Anonymuncule Seldes | Mar 13, 2009 7:54:38 PM
Have to say, I like Torridjoe's idea -- build a fountain and place of respite at the Farmer's Market and name the whole square for Chavez ... now that would be an appropriate honor.
Posted by: mp97303 | Mar 13, 2009 8:45:37 PM
An open question to the street renaming people: Is your objective to honor Sr. Chavez or is your objective to show the people of Portland how much political power you might wield?
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Mar 13, 2009 9:13:27 PM
The whole point of renaming a major street is so that lots of people actually USE the name every day. A park or library isn't nearly as effective along those lines.
But changing street names is literally disorienting.
In Portland, we're very lucky that we have a major new bridge that needs a name. Let's take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. There's no reason not to.
Posted by: Irritator | Mar 13, 2009 9:48:04 PM
Perhaps this is something that should be decided by Latinos and not a bunch of white liberals?
Posted by: YoungOregonMoonbat | Mar 13, 2009 10:11:58 PM
White shame at its' fullest and most pathetic is on full display here.
I support naming no streets after Cesar Chavez until they rename a street after former US Senator Mark O. Hatfield.
Hatfield did more for the people of Oregon than Cesar Chavez, but then again, Hatfield does not have a race lobby behind him and a city full of Whites, many of whom are ashamed of their heritage.
Was that politically correct? Eh, I could care less nowadays, but then again maybe that caring less is part of my "White Privilege". LOL.
Posted by: YoungOregonMoonbat | Mar 13, 2009 10:19:56 PM
Commence the ad hominem comments calling me a racist because I opposed the idea until a more influential figure in Oregon society gets his due.
I know what I am, I know that same heritage makes others ashamed, I know that other groups use that shame to their "advantage," and I am fully aware of their agenda.
The question of what "has Cesar Chavez done for Oregon" pales in comparison to the body of work that Mark O. Hatfield's life was for Portland, OR and the people of Oregon.
Shame on me. LOL.
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Mar 13, 2009 10:30:52 PM
Hatfield does not have a race lobby behind him and a city full of Whites, many of whom are ashamed of their heritage.
Was that politically correct?
Mainly angry and stupid. Couldn't you have tried to work a Limbaugh code word in so we'd know you were channeling the GOP leader?
One of the reasons it's ignorant (though the ways are many and resplendent) is because Hatfield is still alive. Americans are kind of cool about not creating cults of personalities with living politicians.
Posted by: George Anonymuncule Seldes | Mar 13, 2009 10:33:25 PM
Actually, moonbat, one little issue is that there is darn little that hasn't been named for Hatfield already.
I'm old enough to remember a good tradition that has been lost, which is that we didn't use to name things for living people. That's a tradition we should return to.
Posted by: Carl Fisher | Mar 13, 2009 10:38:31 PM
I think we must continue the tradition of naming all our streets after Simpson's characters. ;)
Posted by: Jenson | Mar 13, 2009 11:14:54 PM
I think this conversation is purely idiotic. Let's try and put this money toward learning about the legacy of Cesar Chavez Jr. in our schools before retooling our signage. It's simply frivolous in the greater context of things.
What do people really know about Rosa Parks besides helping to establish a landmark for New Seasons?
We have an edumacational format that attempts to relieve students of any pressure. Instead of subjecting students to an adaptation process that builds maturity and responsibility, students are off at 2:30 hanging out. So we have children that can now hang out on the corner of Cesar Chavez Jr and Rosa Parks street farting around mid afternoon when they should be running through homework problems and exploring these unique progressive minds in greater depth.
Thank god we are trying to build a soccer stadium so our kids don't have to hang out on renamed street corners anymore. Plus maybe I can finally live out my dream selling processed hot dogs and cheese fries.
Posted by: Brian C. | Mar 13, 2009 11:17:08 PM
You want big let's go big. Cesar Chavez stadium, home of the new MLS franchise. That's right. I went there. ;)
Posted by: mp97303 | Mar 13, 2009 11:25:24 PM
Jeff said" Couldn't you have tried to work a Limbaugh code word in so we'd know you were channeling the GOP leader?"
Jeff, you are better than that.
Posted by: danK | Mar 13, 2009 11:41:35 PM
Why not rename the entire city of Gresham? It'll give them something tangible to resent.
Posted by: ws | Mar 14, 2009 12:01:23 AM
This entire effort is beginning to seem so much like the kind of branding the Rose Festival fell victim to, though in its case, the reason was money. Here, I'm not sure anymore what the reason for naming a street after Cesar Chavez is. Why do people really want to do this? Chavez was a great man and a figure of lasting importance, but is naming a street the only or best way to keep him and his life's work in the public consciousness?
Adding to the distressful character of this effort, is that it seems as though the street named can't be a little street. It has to be a major thoroughfare or a 'boulevard'. And, the street probably just can't be simply named 'Chavez St', or 'Chavez Avenue' It's probably going to have to be 'Cesar(insert middle name)Chavez' Boulevard. Something huge and inescapable. I hope not pretentious.
Instead of an ag worker, I almost wish Cesar Chavez had been a soccer player. Then his name, what with the city signing onto to this MLS deal, would have been a shoe-in for rechristening Civic Stadium....that is, pge park, Cesar Chavez Memorial Soccer Stadium. I'm sure that enterprise is going to be on the lips of large numbers of people.
It seems right that whatever eventually bears his name should have something to do with the legacy he achieved; agriculture, workers rights, heroism as a champion in achieving ethic and minority dignity for all. I'm beginning to think that's never going to happen. More and more, it looks the the city's people are going to wind up with another arbitrary street re-naming simply because it can be done.
Posted by: another dirty hippie | Mar 14, 2009 6:36:48 AM
Reason for not renaming 39th?
And changing the numbered streets could become a problem, particularly if we start naming the major crosstown thoroughfares.
Excuse me, but there are already "numbered" streets that are instead named streets: Broadway and Park on the west side are part of the regular grid.
support naming no streets after Cesar Chavez until they rename a street after former US Senator Mark O. Hatfield.
Hatfield did more for the people of Oregon than Cesar Chavez, but then again, Hatfield does not have a race lobby behind him and a city full of Whites, many of whom are ashamed of their heritage.
Yep, there just aren't enough monuments to Hatfield and his pork-barrel skills already. As for the "race lobby" inanity and my alleged shame about my heritage, give me an effing break.
This is silly. As Bojack pointed out last year, Cesar Chavez doesn't even have any connection with Portland, so why are we renaming a street for him? Let's move on to something more important.
All hail Jack Bogdanski! Let's name a street in his honor: change MLK to Smartass Boulevard.
And while we're at it, better rename a bunch of high schools: Madison and Franklin are hte most obvious examples. After all, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin had nothing to do with Oregon. Purging those names would definitely be a Bogdanskian action of the first degree.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Mar 14, 2009 7:17:05 AM
Bridge.
Posted by: I HAVE AN EXPERT WHO AGREES WITH ME! | Mar 14, 2009 7:59:50 AM
Sewer.
Posted by: JennGorasm | Mar 14, 2009 8:05:51 AM
How about an INS detention facility?
Posted by: Bologna on Wonderbread | Mar 14, 2009 8:37:04 AM
If it's good enough for a U.S. President, It's good enough for Cesar Chavez!
Posted by: another dirty hippie | Mar 14, 2009 11:24:25 AM
There must be a filter that trolls use to flag the name "Cesar Chavez" on blogs, thereby alerting there to the opportunity to post inane comments like "How about an INS detention facility?".
BTW here's some verbiage from Chavez' Wikipedia page:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Born March 31, 1927, Yuma, Arizona, U.S.
"César Estrada Chávez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was a Mexican American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. Supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers. His birthday has become a holiday in eight U.S. states. Many parks, cultural centers, libraries, schools, and streets have been named in his honor in cities across the United States."
"Later in life, education became César's focus. The walls of his office in Keene, California (United Farm Worker headquarters) were lined with hundreds of books ranging in subject from philosophy, economics, cooperatives, and unions, to biographies of Gandhi and the Kennedys. He was a vegan."
"There is a portrait of him in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Oh, and Chavez' non-existent link to Oregon? BULLSHIT.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"In 1973, college professors in Mount Angel, Oregon established the first four-year Mexican-American college in the United States. They chose César Chávez as their symbolic figurehead, naming the college Colegio Cesar Chavez. In the book Colegio Cesar Chavez, 1973-1983: A Chicano Struggle for Educational Self-Determination author Carlos Maldonado writes that Chávez visited the campus twice, joining in public demonstrations in support of the college. Though Colegio Cesar Chavez closed in 1983, it remains a recognized part of Oregon history. On its website the Oregon Historical Society writes, 'Structured as a "college-without-walls," more than 100 students took classes in Chicano Studies, early childhood development, and adult education. Significant financial and administrative problems caused Colegio to close in 1983. Its history represents the success of a grassroots movement.'"
Posted by: another dirty hippie | Mar 14, 2009 11:39:37 AM
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Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Mar 13, 2009 2:48:35 PM
Oh, by the way, I meant to add these hearing times for discussion of the renaming (via the Oregonian article):
Grand Avenue, March 23 and Broadway, March 30
Both from 6-9pm at Metro (600 N.E. Grand Ave.)
39th Avenue, April 6
6-9pm Hollywood Theater, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
The panel will meet at 7 p.m. April 20 in the Portland Building to make its recommendations. The planning commission will hold a hearing at 7 p.m. April 28 in the City Council chambers.