Which Street Should Become Cesar Chavez?

Jeff Alworth

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:

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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    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.

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    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.

  • regulararmyfool (unverified)
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    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.

  • Eric Parker (unverified)
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    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?

  • mp97303 (unverified)
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    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...

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    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.

  • jfwells (unverified)
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    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?

  • Eric Parker (unverified)
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    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.

  • Eric Parker (unverified)
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    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.

  • Cafe Today (unverified)
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    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.

  • Jeff (unverified)
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    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.

  • Ten Bears (unverified)
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    Metropolis, is not necessarily Oregon.

  • Sadie (unverified)
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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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?

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    Ps I realize there would have to be some kind of PSU buyoff for any structure...

  • Marshall Collins (unverified)
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    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.

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    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.

  • eat the rich (unverified)
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    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).

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    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....

  • ValkRaider (unverified)
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    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.

  • Douglas K. (unverified)
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    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?

  • Sean (unverified)
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    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.

  • Zarathustra (unverified)
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    Grand. Don't rename 39th; make 42nd Douglas Adams Blvd.

  • Zarathustra (unverified)
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    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.

  • Zarathustra (unverified)
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    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.

  • George Anonymuncule Seldes (unverified)
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    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.

  • George Anonymuncule Seldes (unverified)
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    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.

  • mp97303 (unverified)
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    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?

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    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.

  • Irritator (unverified)
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    Perhaps this is something that should be decided by Latinos and not a bunch of white liberals?

  • YoungOregonMoonbat (unverified)
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    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.

  • YoungOregonMoonbat (unverified)
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    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.

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    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.

  • George Anonymuncule Seldes (unverified)
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    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.

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    I think we must continue the tradition of naming all our streets after Simpson's characters. ;)

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    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.

  • Brian C. (unverified)
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    You want big let's go big. Cesar Chavez stadium, home of the new MLS franchise. That's right. I went there. ;)

  • mp97303 (unverified)
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    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.

  • danK (unverified)
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    Why not rename the entire city of Gresham? It'll give them something tangible to resent.

  • ws (unverified)
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    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.

  • another dirty hippie (unverified)
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    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.

  • I HAVE AN EXPERT WHO AGREES WITH ME! (unverified)
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    Sewer.

  • JennGorasm (unverified)
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    How about an INS detention facility?

  • Bologna on Wonderbread (unverified)
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    If it's good enough for a U.S. President, It's good enough for Cesar Chavez!

  • SwamiSam (unverified)
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    How about Vista Avenue?

  • another dirty hippie (unverified)
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    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.'"

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    Kari, I think the bridge idea is interesting. The only thing I'd wonder though is how many people would actually use the name of the bridge if they weren't driving across it in cars? In buses and light rail, there's really no incentive to say the name of the bridge, you're not giving directions and it's not the name of a transit hub. For example, if all you did was ride the max, would you even necessarily know the name of the Steel Bridge? It's not like it's announced when you cross over it, or labeled on route maps. It seems like bridge names come up more often when you're talking about directions, and for the new bridge, you wouldn't be telling anyone to drive across the Cesar Chavez Bridge. It is a pretty convenient option, however, which seems like it'd be easier to swallow for street renaming opponents.

  • Bob Tiernan (unverified)
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    Cafe Today:

    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?

    Bob T:

    Because some people have to do these things to make them feel good. Last time they did that they proudly elected the "first gay mayor of a major city", and were rewarded with a nice corporate welfare package for a multi- millionaire (which everyone knew Adams supported before the election, but no matter -- feeling proud of themselves was more important than, well, important things).

    Bob Tiernan Portland

  • Bologna on Wonderbread (unverified)
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    My father was a deputy sheriff in Southern California during two of the UFW's "huelgas". He worked several 24 hour shifts protecting non-union pickers in the lettuce fields from being assaulted by the UFW. He had lettuce, rocks and bottles thrown at him by the UFW and their teamsters roughnecks.

    Cesar Chavez is not a hero to me.

  • alcatross (unverified)
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    Sideways topic... but I note Cesar Chavez was firmly against illegal immigration - believing it both undermined US workers and exploited illegal aliens.

    He would therefore have been sorely disappointed by the US Senate recently stripping the E-Verify provision from the House version of the stimulus bill and voting to end the E-Verify program in six months. Drowning in a infinite sea of ineffective programs, leave it to our elected fools in Washington to end one that, while not perfect, does actually work.

    So now, according to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), illegal aliens will take 300,000 of the 2 million construction jobs to be created by the stimulus bill. The CIS figure is based on Census Bureau estimates that 15 percent of all construction workers are illegal aliens or immigrants who are not authorized to work in the United States. Other experts put the figure far higher than 15 percent, and certainly higher in California and other Southwestern states, where illegals tend to congregate.

    Sorry Cesar... and sorry for us also-

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    "a nice corporate welfare package for a multi- millionaire"

    I've not heard of this. What package are you talking about? You obviously can't be thinking of the MLS deal, since Paulson isn't actually getting a dime from the City; the City is paying to build themselves a stadium and renovate a new one--and Paulson is covering the risk.

    "Sorry Cesar... and sorry for us also"

    Why? Studies show undocumented workers are a net benefit for the US at this time.

    And portraying the Chavez side as the violent one--that's funny.

  • alcatross (unverified)
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    Kari says: We should name the new light rail bridge for Cesar Chavez.

    I have an even BETTER idea... let's sell naming rights for the bridge (ala PGE Park, etc) and use the resulting $ to help fund replacement of the Sellwood Bridge and/or replace some of the $338M state lottery funds (originally ear-marked for schools) used to fund this bridge.

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    OK, people, stay on topic. Let's not get into immigration policy or major league baseball. Many other threads exist to discuss those issues.

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    Jeff, you don't spend enough time on 39th to appreciate why it might be appropriate. from Woodstock to Hollywood, it cuts across most of the inner-eastside thoroughfares (sp?) - Burnside, Hawthorne, Powell, Division and many others. eastsiders and visitors use 39th to navigate their ways north/south & east/west. the #75 bus delivers travellers to shopping, work, friends, nights out, Max and more. many people take 39th for granted, but there are few streets in the city that serve a more vital connecting role. while 39th itself may not be anything special, the role it serves in eastside life would be well-celebrated by its consideration for this honor. it may not be the right street to rename (or for this rename), but it's a street to which we need to pay more attention and give greater respect.

    a busy, hard-working, mostly disregarded street without which the eastside could not function. i find that highly appropriate in this discussion.

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    Carl Fisher:

    I think we must continue the tradition of naming all our streets after Simpson's characters. ;)

    mmmmmmmm, Carl Fisher. is there nothing he can't do?

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    Actually Kari, some of us do use parks every day; and parks are often places where communities gather for concerts, sports, and other events. The idea floated above to rename a significant farmer's market for Chavez also makes a lot of sense on many levels.

    Given the way Portland maintains streets, I question how much of an honor getting one of our pot-hole lined avenues named after you is in the first place!

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    Jeff, you are better than that.

    Yeah, you're right. But man, when I see vicious stuff like that, I sometimes lose my cool.

    Speaking of--I'm cool with the new bridge. I do think we should work a little harder to honor Oregon Latino history, but hey, Chavez is fine, too.

    TA, I'm as familiar with SE 39th as with any street in this fair town. (Some of my best friends live on it!) I'm actually fine either it or Broadway. (Honestly, I think Grand is an unsightly street and not much of an honor.) But I do like the idea of fixing that damn dogleg of Broadway. Its asymmetry somehow tweaks me.

  • Bring the Rain (unverified)
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    Tualatin Valley Highway, anyone?

  • Erik H. (unverified)
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    As it is important to recognize important figures in American History, I propose the following street name changes:

    1. George W. Bush Parkway
    2. Bill Clinton Boulevard
    3. George H.W. Bush Avenue
    4. Ronald Reagan Boulevard
    5. Jimmy Carter Way

    ...

    You get the idea.

    We can continue the tradition by naming a street after each of Oregon's Governors, each of Portland's Mayors, etc.

    We can start by taking the streets that have become fodder for The Simpsons characters, because who remembers who Flanders REALLY is? No, not Ned Flanders. Not Bob Terwilliger, the crazy murderous clown with the spiky hair. Not Milhouse Van Houten, or the Reverend Lovejoy, or Mayor Quimby.

  • Buckman Res (unverified)
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    Whatever method is chosen to honor Mr. Chavez it should include a plaque where his staunch opposition to illegal immigration can be displayed, as the entry below from Wikipedia documents.

    “In 1969, Chávez and members of the UFW marched through the Imperial and Coachella Valleys to the border of Mexico to protest growers' use of undocumented (illegal) immigrants as strikebreakers. Joining him on the march were both Reverend Ralph Abernathy and U.S. Senator Walter Mondale.

    In its early years, Chávez and the UFW went so far as to report undocumented immigrants who served as strikebreaking replacement workers, as well as those who refused to unionize, to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

    In 1973, the United Farm Workers set up a "wet line" along the United States-Mexico border to prevent Mexican immigrants from entering the United States illegally and potentially undermining the UFW's unionization efforts.”

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    The whole point here is to name something that's always on the lips of large numbers of people.

    We should name the new light rail bridge for Cesar Chavez.

    How often will anyone speak the name of the new light rail bridge once it's dedicated and in use? Where will anyone even see a sign with the name of the bridge? What publications will refer to the new bridge by its name and how often will that happen?

    Kari, your "better idea" totally fails to meet what you claim is the whole point.

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    Jeff, please note that the Historian Panel is taking testimony on the topics of the fitness of Cesar Chavez as a historical figure and on the historical nature of the current streets/names.

    It's not their charter to address cost, naming other things instead, racism or the lack thereof, etc. and they will not be accepting testimony on those issues.

    It may be that the Planning Commission will take testimony on the broader issues and I would certainly expect that City Council will do so when they take up the question.

    I think there will be a lot of frustrated people at the Historian Panel meetings if the purpose of those meetings isn't clear.

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    As a point of information, the mayor and council have expressed their intention to follow city code in any future street renamings.

    That means that if you want to name a street after Mark Hatfield before he's been dead for five years or rename only part of Broadway, you will need to work to change the current code.

  • Bob Tiernan (unverified)
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    Jeff Alworth:

    Americans are kind of cool about not creating cults of personalities with living politicians.

    Bob T:

    Like the way Obama is a cult figure to millions? Things being named after him before the inauguration; his face all over the place like we were in Havana looking at Castro or Iraq under Saddam seeing that face plastered all over. You're really funny sometimes.

    Bob Tiernan Portland

  • Bob Tiernan (unverified)
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    TorridJoe:

    You obviously can't be thinking of the MLS deal, since Paulson isn't actually getting a dime from the City; the City is paying to build themselves a stadium and renovate a new one--and Paulson is covering the risk.

    Bob T:

    Oh dear. Look, if the city council votes to build supermarket buildings and then let Safeway, Albertson's and other use them would you say that those businesses wouldn't "be getting a dime from the Cuty"?

    Bob Tiernan Portland

  • Dil Mirch (unverified)
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    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.

    Lighten up! This is a political blog. Every topic will make someone angry. There are some people that compulsively strike a balance. The point was not beyond the Pale. Do you listen to Limbaugh? I sure don't and would never have heard Rush code if you hadn't pointed it out. Thanks. Cult of personality. Give me a break. "Cult of personality" is your naming a street after Cesar Chavez and never a scientist, artist, poet, social worker- anyone that is actually exemplary. Has to be someone powerful, symbolic, with name recognition. That is cult of personality.

    Man that's a pisser. I suppose the living nightmare that was the Plano, TX Mayor naming the new tollway George H. W. Bush Tollway, while he was in office, was just a figment of my imagination. Oh, right, Texans aren't "kind of cool" like other Americans.

    You leave the impression that you would rather people do something else with sentiments such as YOMB's. YOMB is clearly between the parties. Would you rather s(he) discuss it with a Rushie? Not ask the question at all? Who are you trying to reach? Must only be party faithful. If I were running a blog like this I would consider reaching YOMB to be exactly what the blog was there for.

    YOMB, you're better than black and white generalizations. You know you don't think that way. "Proud or ashamed of your white heritage"? Why can't it be both? You must know that's the reasonable position. If not, keep reading history.

    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.

    That's so true. That very thread had all the Mount Angel info. The goddamned idiot skipped the non-Jack part of the last posting, then asserts as naught what he didn't read last time! He's probably the poster that couldn't get his head around "hispanic" on the last thread. Obviously, YOMB didn't read it either. It covered the basics, that "hispanic" isn't a race; they're caucs, "race lobby". You mean "ethnic lobby". Hoy! That would be pretty weird in politics! What the hell do you think motivates 80% of the politically active people across the planet!?! Let's outlaw Pakistan. The whole country was founded based on an ethnic lobby. Oh, right. That's why India doesn't think it would be such a big deal if they took it.

    Let's rename the country to Unflinching Stupid Arses. That would at least be truth in marketing. The people of Iraq might understand a case of corn flakes from the people that destroyed their country if it said on it, "This food aid was provided by Unflinching Stupid Arses".

  • Jiang (unverified)
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    those businesses wouldn't "be getting a dime from the Cuty"?

    Bob Tiernan Portland

    Hey, you work for Multnomah County, right? I'll thank you to refer to him as "The Mayor", not "the cuty"...and it's spelled "cutie".

  • Zarathustra (unverified)
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    Doretta, I'm wondering about something that has always irritated me about Portland street signs, is this within the purview?

    Specifically, the city core has the signs turned 90 degrees, relative to the direction they would face if they were not downtown. It's hard to communicate the question in print. I have never once been able to bring this question up with a local without standing under one and showing them what I mean. You will get a universal, "no they're not" if you just describe the situation. Is it simply that almost all have been turned around?

    Another signage question...about tri-met stop signs. Does the city code regulate this? I would like to see a tri-met sticker on the back side so you don't have to walk around looking at the front of a number of similar looking signs to find the bus stop.

    I rather like in the UK that most road names are pretty good descriptions of where they are, where they go or what they look like. I got really lost in Sussex once, and found my way back because "London Road" went to London. In Oregon it would most likely be the name of a cul-de-sac at the new Metolius build. Was the comment about scientists, et al., the kind of thing you'll be discussing?

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    Grand Avenue. It takes a relatively meaningless name and appends Chavez's name to a key artery.

    I don't want to change the numbered streets, particularly not 39th which is so important for giving any sort of driving directions in the SE.

    ADH makes the classic lowest common denominator argument: because we already have two "named" streets on the number grid, therefore we shouldn't care about any others!

  • another dirty hippie (unverified)
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    Dil Mirch: The comment I quoted from this thread mentioning Bogdanski said nothing whatsoever about Mount Angel. Maybe you're referring to something on Bogdanski's blog? I wouoldn't know because I quit looking at his blog awhile ago: I really don't need another dose of GOP-Lite fulminating about how government is the problem, all public officials are incompetent or thieves, etc. But go ahead and call me a "goddamned idiot" if that makes your day. Just while you're at it, provide a link to whatever thread you meant when you wrote this: "That very thread had all the Mount Angel info. The goddamned idiot skipped the non-Jack part of the last posting...."

    Oh, and by the way, what about renaming Madison and Franklin high schools, as I facetiously suggested? Neither James Madison not Benjamin Franklin ever came to Portland, which of course didn't even exist when they lived. Ditto for Thomas Jefferson, come to think of it. We've got people arguing that Chavez should not be honored in Portland because he supposedly had nothing to do with Portland. Well--so why are we honoring Madison, Franklin, and Jefferson?

    I don't doubt that some people will argue quite sincerely not to name a street after Chavez, but puhleeze, the line "he had nothing to do with Portland" just doesn't cut it. This is the UNITED States of America, for crying out loud: I get to live in Oregon and still show appreciation and respect for someone from a state I've never set foot in.

    Again, if you have a sincere reason to oppose the renaming proposals, by all means make your argument. Just don't start with the conclusion and then work backwards to come up with a goofball rationale like "Chavez never came to Portland".

  • another dirty hippie (unverified)
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    Bob Tiernan: Yo, the Obama-as-cult-figure line is so 2008. It didn't work when Clinton supporters were using it last spring. It didn't work when the GOP used it during the general-election campaign. Now, I realize you're a Libertarian and all, and thus a self-defined ultra-rational guy who would never thing of elevating someone like Ayn Rand, say, or an abstract concept like "the free market", to an object of veneration.

  • another dirty hippie (unverified)
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    Sorry, typo, I meant "never THINK of" :-O

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    Bob, you're correct--if they City built a place for a grocery--then let Safeway use it...while charging about $700,000 a year in rent, like they're charging Paulson, then they wouldn't be getting a dime of the City's money. The bonus is that with a stadium, non-Timbers uses are also possible by the City. Pretty good deal, isnt't it!

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    Uh oh, looks like we're headed into some annoying territory again.

  • Dil Mirch (unverified)
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    I would never call a dirty hippie an idiot! I was agreeing with you and calling the guy you were responding to an idiot.

    Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Mar 15, 2009 4:39:26 PM

    Uh oh, looks like we're headed into some annoying territory again.

    Reminds me of a quote, I think the Archbishop of Canterbury said, that the internet, "is, like, un-policed speech". Perhaps it's the teutonization of the world. It used to be said that inside every German was a policeman, including the policeman. Or American, with a world cop mentality. Don't worry Rowan, it's not un-policed; we all lend a hand!

    Annoying is that the word "soccer" guarantees 100 responses, but the Fed duplicating private banking stupidity gets 15, if it's lucky.

  • J Loewen (unverified)
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    I like the idea of naming things after locals who have contributed to Oregon. You suggetion of Ferrell was excellent

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    We're off in the weeds here, but in the interest of clarity, let us acknowledge the difference between honoring revered statesmen and creating cults of personality. This latter phenomenon applies to living people. Examples: Kim Jong il, Mao.

    So, for example, 20 minutes after Reagan died, Republicans tried to name every public facility after him. They waited because that's what you do in a democracy. In totalitarian regimes, you name public facilities after the leader to establish his power.

    There can therefore be no cult of personality around Cesar Chavez.

    Obama, that's another matter. But here I think our Republican friends are distraught mainly becuase it's been so long since anyone actually liked the president that they've forgotten what it looks like. (Support him after a tragedy, yes. Like him? Been since that guy from Arkansas was in the White House.)

    Hatfield's cool, and he is claimed by Oregonians of all stripes as one of the pillars of the state. For that reason, we're not naming stuff after him now.

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    Paul G, You can't give directions in SE is a lame reason not to change 39th. For the love, just say it's now Chavez Blvd, between 38th and 40th.

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    I'm all for renaming, in preference order: Grand Avenue, Eastside Broadway, Couch.

    Seems like enough people use those street names in conversation to honor Chavez, and I'm for street naming systems that help in navigation, so would prefer not renaming 39th. Couch is third on my list because it refers to a local person, unlike Grand or Broadway.

    Or Pioneer Square - the city's living room. As it is, people confuse it with Pioneer Place in Seattle.

  • Bring the Rain (unverified)
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    Seriously... why are we doing this in Portland and not Washington County? Washington County is 15% Hispanic, compared to 8% in Portland. Farm laborers that Chavez fought for are the lifeblood of rural Washington County's economy, while a few scattered tiendas and taquerias are about the most significant presence of Latinos in The Whitest City in America.

    If Portland wants to honor a segment of its population, how about: Mikhail Gorbachev Avenue (Russian immigrants), Widmer Way (craft brewers), Goldschmidt Plaza (for light rail leadership) or Earl Warren Drive (a nod to the Californian heritage of many Portlanders).

  • George Anonymuncule Seldes (unverified)
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    Even as someone who supports recognition for a genuine mensch who stood up for the powerless and oppressed his whole life, I despise this Orwellian idea that daily usage is the proper standard for determining what place gets renamed for Chavez. Heck, if frequent usage is the standard, then we should call the stretch of I-5 from the river to I-405 the Cesar E. Chavez Interstate, because then every radio and TV traffic report will talk about conditions on the Chavez every day, just like the Dan Ryan in Chicago and the Beltway in DC ...

    The way to actually honor Chavez is by giving his name to something that people love -- a park (Delta Park = Chavez Park), a library, a fountain, the Farmer's Market, a community garden, something like that. People who claim to be interested in honoring Chavez are selling him short by thinking in terms of a street or bridge in order to force people to say his name more often.

  • Oregon Sidekick (unverified)
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    I personally thought David Reinhard had a very interesting idea last year (yes, I know, Reinhard having a good idea? but he did have one). He suggested renaming Delta Park for Cesar Chavez. That way, everyone who drove down I-5 would see a huge sign proclaiming Cesar Chavez Park. I don't remember all his reasons, but he made a really good point. As far as renaming the streets, Broadway is an iconic street - leave it alone; Grand is probably the best candidate of the choices, but it raises some of the same issues as did the renaming of MLK. However, MLK is changing drastically and maybe Chavez wouldn't be so bad; 39th I don't believe should be changed either, it's a major street, one of the first numbered streets I learned when I moved here and even though a numbered street just doesn't fit. My proposal is to rename Burnside. What better symbol than the street that unites North and South Portland. It also has the advantage of running out towards the agricultural fields on both sides of town which is something Cesar Chavez actually had to do with; if you could get Gresham to go along, you'd have Cesar Chavez Boulevard running all the way from Providence Hospital to the end of Gresham where it turns into U.S. 26 to Mt. Hood and Central Oregon. If you want visibility, there it is. It makes perfect sense to me, and I'm surprised no one's mentioned it before.

  • (Show?)

    For all those who think Cesar Chavez contributed nothing to Portland, three words: Sí, se puede. Yes We Can. Chavez and the UFW contributed that slogan to generations of social change organizers. Three simple words, but a powerful ideal.

  • joel dan walls (unverified)
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    I think I can summarize the peculiar logic that is on display here. Whatever place might be named for Chavez, it MUST HAVE these characteristics:

    --Be in an area with a large Latino population. --Be associated with agriculture.

    Apparently this is because only those who are either Latino or associated with agriculture can possibly appreciate Chavez' fight for workers' rights. It's kind of like the way that only African Americans can possibly appreciate Martin Luther King Jr., I guess.

    Perhaps we can get even more parochial and stereotypical than this.

    Folks, yes, if you're commenting here, you probably live in Oregon, a melanin-deficient part of the United States, but if you live to a ripe old age, your last days will be spent in a majority-minority country (just as California is already). And your children will most certainly live in such a place. Wrap your heads around that idea the next time you're inclined towards stereotypes.

    "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."--Benjamin Franklin

  • Terry Parker (unverified)
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    None of these streets should be renamed, especially Broadway. Just like almost every small town in America has its Main Street, every big city has its Broadway. In downtown, Broadway is the street of theaters. Running through Northeast Portland, Broadway has its own identity like Interstate Avenue has an own identity. The two Broadways are connected by the Broadway Bridge. Both Broadway and Grand Avenue have a historical significance to Portland. 39th Avenue is part of a sequential numbered street system on the Eastside. I do not think the man to be honored by this street renaming proposal would himself approve of the costs that will be incurred by small businesses, or even by the City of Portland if any of these streets were to be renamed.

    What is needed is an alternative resolution that would not pose financial hardships to small businesses, not cost taxpayers the extra money of requiring the City of Portland to change out a multitude of street signs, and not require a divisive process. Therefore, as a fitting tribute to honor Cesar E. Chavez, I suggest naming the proposed new bridge crossing the Willamette River between OMSI and the South Waterfront after Mr. Chavez. This is a bridge that people will cross over and ships will pass under. This is a bridge that can fill in the gap between those who labor in the fields and those who dwell in the central city. By naming a new bridge in honor of Cesar E. Chavez, it would receive far more community support as a whole because the divisiveness and costs of this renaming process would disappear.

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    I think Grand is the best choice. It's next to MLK and they were both civil rights leaders.

    Next best is 39th. I would not want to change Broadway.

    But I like the idea of naming something that was related to what he was famous for. Such as the farmer's market for Chavez or a transit center for Rosa Parks.

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    I'm wondering about something that has always irritated me about Portland street signs, is this within the purview?

    That's definitely not in the purview of the historian panel for street renamings. I'd recommend you call City/County Information and Referral at 503-823-4000 and ask them to connect you with the right person to address that question. It might take a couple of phone calls but that resource has worked pretty well for me in the past.

    Another signage question...about tri-met stop signs. Does the city code regulate this? I would like to see a tri-met sticker on the back side so you don't have to walk around looking at the front of a number of similar looking signs to find the bus stop.

    It's my understanding that part of the point of the newer style TriMet signs (the half circle ones) is to make them more visible, identifiable and readable from all directions. I think I remember that the old ones are being replaced on TriMet's regular sign maintenance schedule at this point but I'm not sure how long it takes them to cover their whole territory. I do seem to be running across the old ones less and less though.

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    "Apparently this is because only those who are either Latino or associated with agriculture can possibly appreciate Chavez' fight for workers' rights."

    ...or the place chosen would be emblematic of Chavez' life and what he fought for, and would remind/educate those not quite as well informed as to why he was important. I wouldn't find pernicious motive if they decided to put a statute of John Glenn at Cape Canaveral instead of Ohio.

  • Zarathustra (unverified)
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    While I don't support the logic,and shudder to admit it, I have to agree with Terry Parker's conclusion. The light rail bridge is a very apt tribute.

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    Rename a pond or park after him and quit the nonsense already.

  • stephen (unverified)
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    none. renaming streets is stupid. if they want to make a new street and call it that fine by me. I propose we change mlk back to union, rosa parks back to portland, etc.

  • tired of it (unverified)
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    I'm not sure why we should waste anymore money to rename a street or any other thing in Portland. We already pay for their health care, food, and shelter. Lunches at school during the year and summer. They have taken over and decreased the wages of carpenters and landscapers. They now work in the fast food industry where kids used to get their first job. They use false SSN#s and believe that they have "rights". Well, Americans have lost quite a bit and it continues....

  • brittany (unverified)
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    We should stop naming streets after people, streets are dirty and disrespected, I wouldn't want some filthy thing named after me, and I'm getting tired of having to pay to upgrade my gps every time there is a new street or a name change... Just quit already, no argueing, name buildings instead, or your house!

  • brittany (unverified)
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    "Oh, and Chavez' non-existent link to Oregon? BULLSHIT" non-existent link to Portland, go rename a street in Mount Angel! Less streets! Less renames to remember, name a farm!

  • rlw (unverified)
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    So I wonder why we have to look for the biggest thing possible to name after Mr. Chavez? Why not create a gorgeous little pocket park, a splendid place of repose in the middle of the muscle-muscle that is contemporary life and head? Why must it be something BIG BIG? A wall, a mural, a garden and a place to pull off yer bones for some peace.

  • Sabrina (unverified)
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    "...fitting tribute to honor Cesar E. Chavez"

    We don't need a tribute to Chavez. He did virtually nothing for most of us. This is not (or wasn't) an historically Latino state or city. We do NOT owe Chavez anything commemorative. We should not be naming anything after him and I will personally help recall our city council including the mayor if they go through with it. They continue to make the most idiotic decisions..it's almost like they don't listen to those who pay their wages.

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