KERA-TV (Dallas, Texas)

February 10, 2010

Dallas Council to Vote on Cesar Chavez Boulevard

The final vote naming a downtown Dallas street after Cesar Chavez is set for today.

Dallas City Council members are to vote today on re-naming Central Expressway, the downtown surface street, for migrant farm worker/civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.

The stretch from Pacific Avenue, past the Farmers Market, to Grand Avenue in the Fair Park neighborhood would become Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

Alberto Ruiz, with the Cesar Chavez Task Force, says the group initially wanted Industrial Boulevard to honor Chavez; then Ross Avenue.  Both failed after emotional and politically-charged fights.  Ruiz says this is a compromise.

Ruiz:  “There was a lot of push-back saying why don’t you put in Oak Cliff??  Why don’t you put it in more Latino areas of the city?  And we said that’s not what it’s about.  It’s about the city coming to grips with its common culture and what we share as a whole community.”

Ruiz said a downtown street was a “must” to appropriately honor Chavez, and recognize the Dallas Hispanic community.  Approval is expected for this name-change.