Cesar Chavez street plan stirs up old passions

Support, opposition voiced over idea to rename a street after labor leader

By Jim Redden

Battle lines are once again forming over the idea of renaming a city street to honor farm worker labor organizer Cesar E. Chavez.

A grassroots group has proposed naming one of three city streets after Chavez – Broadway, Grand Avenue or 39th Avenue.

A panel reviewing the historic significance of each street will hold it final public hearing Monday evening. The City Council could make a decision by May or June.

Renaming any of the streets for Chavez would be a positive move, according to Marta Guembes, chairwoman of the César E. Chávez Boulevard Committee.

“It would be a good thing for Portland and for future generations,” she said.

But a postcard survey by the city auditors’ office has found overwhelming opposition to the change by residents and businesses along all three of the streets.

The size of the opposition ranged from almost 95 percent along Broadway to nearly 87 percent along 39th and just under 84 percent on Grand.

Comments written on some of the cards show that emotions are already running very high on both sides of the issue. Although none reviewed by the Portland Tribune were signed, they show people along the streets already have strong opinions about the proposal.

“Before 39th was mentioned, I was telling friends it should be 39th,” reads an unsigned comment on a card favoring the change on 39th.

“Renaming numbered streets is confusing,” counters an opponent.

Several of the commentators used the cards to express political views.

“As a white woman, I am sick to death of so many streets, buildings, states, airports, etc. named and dedicated to the white male patriarchy. “This is a step in the right directions,” reads one comment.

“Guard our borders,” reads another, apparently referring to the migrant workers Chavez worked to organize.

Remembered by a street

Some of the responses referred to how much affected businesses would pay to comply with such a change.

“You’ve got to be kidding! In these economic times, folks don’t need the expense of redoing stationary, business cards, websites, brochures. Your timing stinks!” said one unsigned comment on a card opposing the change on 39th.

Others said the city should find another way to honor Chavez. Some suggested naming a park of the proposed MAX light-rail bridge over the Willamette River after him.

“I met and worked with Cesar. I doubt he would want to be remembered by a street,” reads one card.

Guembes believes most of the opposition is aversion to change, not reluctance to honor Chavez.

“Change makes people uncomfortable,” she said.

The historic panel has already held hearings on renaming Broadway and Grand. It will consider 39th at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 6, at the Hollywood Theater, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd.

The panel will decide on a recommendation at Monday, April 20, meeting. It will begin at 7 p.m. in a second floor conference room in the Portland Building, 1120 S.W. Fifth Ave. Public testimony will not be taken at the meeting.

The recommendation will then be referred to the Portland Planning Commission, which will consider it at a Tuesday, April 28, meeting. It will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1221 S.W. Fourth Ave. Public testimony will be taken at this hearing.

The commission will forward a recommendation to the council. Although no date has yet been set for this hearing, it could happen as early as May or June.

Previous effort fell flat

An earlier effort to rename North Interstate Avenue collapsed in controversy. It came after the same group – The Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard Committee – asked the council for the name change. Many residents and businesses along Interstate opposed the proposal, in part because the council did not follow the procedures for changing street names outlined in the City Code.

After the council declined to rename Interstate, it adopted a resolution clarifying the renaming process. The resolution allowed a person or group to propose a name change by circulating petitions and collecting signatures from 75 percent of the property owners along any street to be renamed or a minimum of 2,500 signatures citywide. The Chavez committee successfully collected more than 2,500 signatures from city residents.

The committee was also required to pay $3,000 to cover the cost of the postcard survey.

The resolution also called for the appointment of the historic panel. It includes Willamette University law professor Gilbert Carrasco, Oregon National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Caldwell, and Cully Neighborhood Association President Kathy Fuerstenau. In addition to studying the historical significance of the streets, they will also decide whether Chavez deserves such an honor.

The process is being assisted by Marshall Mediation, a Portland mediation firm. They have held numerous meetings with residents and businesses along the streets, and are also helping prepare the meeting materials for the panel, commission and council.

The council approved $150,000 for the renaming process, including $35,000 for Marshall Mediation. If the council chooses to rename one of the streets, some of the money will be used for new street signs. They will appear alongside the existing signs for five years, after which the original signs will be removed.