I see that Portland's "Street Renaming Historian Panel" is meeting this morning. This is the group that's going to report to the City Council on whether the streets that are proposed to be renamed after César Chávez have such historic significance that their existing names shouldn't be changed. They are Grand Avenue, East 39th, and Broadway.
Today's confab is supposed to be about "process and procedures" for the study. At last report, the members of the group, chosen by Mayor McShame himself, were Willamette law prof Gil Carrasco; Oregon National Guard general Mike Caldwell; and Kathy Fuerstenau, president of the Cully Neighborhood Association. Apparently none of the three are historians in their own rights, but they will be advised by a group of professional historians.
As we've mentioned here earlier, the folks who are pushing for a Chávez Boulevard have gamed the system by refusing to come out and say which street they want to rename. By keeping three different streets in play until late in the process, they're giving the inevitable opposition that much less time to get up in arms and organized, the way the angry neighbors did when they beat down an earlier proposal to rename Interstate Avenue after Chávez.
Since the city's rules allow only one application to be considered each year, the question arises whether there are currently three Chávez applications pending, which would be illegal, or only one. The city attorney says it's only one; no one has challenged the process so far, and so the beat goes on.
It's been 3½ months since the renaming proponents submitted their signed petitions to the city. How long are they going to wait before they finally let us know which street they are actually going to target? Will the matter get all the way to the City Council with all three streets still in the running, and the council can then pick one of the three? Perhaps today's meeting will shed some further light on this.
Comments (38)
At least the members of the group are sensible.
They each have reasons to support a name change, but they also all have experience being subjected to unexpected large expenses, so they should identify with business concerns.
They might surprise everyone and make a wise decision on this.
Did you know that the head of a bureau can create a private corporation and then put out a RFP and then award their own corporation the money?
I made a public records request just two weeks ago seeking access to any record of communications that this issue was discussed (cleared) either with the city auditor or the human resources department.
The city auditor's office claims that they have no record.
January 23, 2009
Yvonne L. Deckard
Portland Human Resources Director
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Rm 404
Portland OR, 97204
Gary Blackmer
Portland City Auditor
1221 SW 4th Ave Room 140
Portland, OR 97204
This is a public records request. It is made pursuant to state law, unless greater openness is accorded by the City of Portland in excess of that of the state. See ORS Chapter 192.
In 2007 the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) awarded a contract to an entity, Latino Network, for which the head of ONI was the corporate president. See RFP ONI001, Diversity and Civic Leadership Academy.
Enclosed are copies of the Human Resources Rules 11.01, 11.02 and 11.03, pertaining to ethics. I believe these rules were violated.
I would like to make a public records request for copies of any communications, both before or after the award, between your office and any staff or RFP proposer to ONI regarding the propriety of ONI Director Amelia Alarcon awarding her own private corporation the contract. I would also like to have a written statement as to your current view on the propriety of City of Portland employees awarding contracts to their own companies.
Enclosed is a printout of the Secretary of State's online records for Latino Network, showing the officers.
Enclosed are copies of the Human Resources Rule 2.01 pertaining to equal employment opportunity. I believe these rules were violated.
Enclosed is a copy of the January 17, 2007, submission by Latino Network for this RFP. The plan to discriminate is revealed in the proposal itself.
I would like to make a public records request for copies of any communications, both before or after the award, between your office and any staff or RFP proposer to ONI regarding the propriety of exempting Latino Network or ONI from compliance with the legal command to be an equal opportunity employer.
I would note here that the bulk of the award to Latino Network appears to go directly to pay the salary of Maria Lisa Johnson, who has since been hired as the director of the City of Portland Office of Human Relations and Human Rights Commission.
Enclosed is a copy of an emailed public records request made by me to ONI dated November 30, 2007, and the December 4, 2007, email reply. Scans of the proposals are accessible at pdxlawg.us/2007COP_DiversityRFP/.
I request a waiver of costs in the public interest.
Respectfully,
Ron Ledbury
The general question I have is does our City Auditor recognize ordinary corruption when it is glaringly obvious? If not, how could we expect him root out any corruption that is any more subtle or any more sophisticated?
If the criteria they are using for selecting which strip of pavement to name after Chavez is "history" then there will be no doubt that 39th will be renamed.
This way, we can end up with such mouthfuls as "the traffic circle at Glisan and Chavez" and "the Fred Meyer at Hawthorne and Chavez"
The one thing that might prevent this, of course, is the well-to-do that live in Laurelhurst putting up a big enough stink to make it go away.
We are gaming the system so we can defeat anybody who doesn't want a strip of pavement named after you. We will not rest until that strip of pavement bears your name. Anybody who opposes us is obviously a racist or a pavement hater.
Because, after all--what better way to honor someone who fought for farm workers than naming a strip of pavement after them?
Sincerely,
The Friends of Democracy (and Political Correctness)
Two of the tree choices for renaming, Broadway and Grand, are clearly ineligible to be renamed according to the city code. To review:
17.93.020 Selection of Street to be Renamed.
A. The name of the street proposed for renaming shall not be changed if the existing name is of historic significance, or the street is significant in its own right.
To argue that Broadway is not historic or significant (Broadway Bridge, long time Theater District, and the first two African American neighborhoods that were each side of the Broadway Bridge)is absurd.
As for Grand Avenue, look no further than the East Portland/Grand Avenue Historic District on Portland Online, or more to the point, the street signs in the district that proclaim it.
A qoute from Cesar E. Chavez Blvd organizer Marta Guembes in the Portland Mercury June 26 2008:
"We're looking through the code, and will be following what we need to follow." Guembes says she and others involved in the original effort "learned from it,"
Given the obvious, this begs the question. Are the Chavez Blvd supporters choosing the streets for political leverage, in hopes to gain more from defeat than a victory? If this is the case it is very cynical indeed.
As for 39th it seems to be a fine choice, IF it is supported by a majority of the residents who surround it. Otherwise I would not wish smears and recriminations experienced by the neighbors around Interstate on anyone.
A park is a much better monument to Chavez, someone who believed in human dignity and the right of the very poorest and most oppressed to have safe working conditions and to earn enough to have a little relaxation now and then.
It really seems that the main motivation of the backers is jamming any resistance to the name change down the city's throats --- flexing muscle rather than honoring Cesar Chavez or the UFW.
I hope the members of the committee reject the renaming on the reverse basis --- that naming a street after Chavez is not nearly enough of an honor, and that Portland needs to find a public facility such as a park or library instead -- something that does honor to the man, rather than just commemorates a nasty incident and the flexing of political muscle.
MachineShedFred says: This way, we can end up with such mouthfuls as "the traffic circle at Glisan and Chavez" and "the Fred Meyer at Hawthorne and Chavez"
Unfortunately, you will have to say "the traffic circle at Glisan and César Estrada Chávez Boulevard." Here are the rules regarding street naming:
1. If the street is named after a dead white guy, only the last name is used. Correct pronunciation is optional. Sorry, Rodney Glisan.
2. If the street is named after a civil rights or labor activist, the full name must be used. Every effort must be used to pronounce the name with the same accent native to the language of the person after whom the street is named.
Jack, I know you and I have many disagreements when it comes to politics, but I want to say thank you for keeping on top of all these city shenanigans. In my book you're the best city watchdog in Portland ;)
Gosh, this really feels like much ado about a very, very small matter.
I so don't get this. A park is a much better monument to Chavez, someone who believed in human dignity and the right of the very poorest and most oppressed to have safe working conditions and to earn enough to have a little relaxation now and then.
I tend to agree, but I am perfectly comfortable with the street renaming as well.
This way, we can end up with such mouthfuls as "the traffic circle at Glisan and Chavez" and "the Fred Meyer at Hawthorne and Chavez."
Unfortunately, you will have to say "the traffic circle at Glisan and César Estrada Chávez Boulevard." Here are the rules regarding street naming:
1. If the street is named after a dead white guy, only the last name is used. Correct pronunciation is optional. Sorry, Rodney Glisan.
2. If the street is named after a civil rights or labor activist, the full name must be used. Every effort must be used to pronounce the name with the same accent native to the language of the person after whom the street is named.
Those objections are just silly. "Glisan and Chavez" is supposed to be somehow harder to say than "Glisan and Thirty-ninth"? GIVE ME A BREAK.
As for the first name vs. surname only rigamarole: fine, rename all streets that are named for people using the full name. FWIW, this sort of street naming is extremely common in other countries.
And the snark about pronunciation? Again, give me a break. When one hears Chavez' first name pronounced by anyone who hasn't studied Spanish, it's almost always rendered as something like SEE-zur.
As an aside, I wonder how many readers of this blog are not white males.
As long as we're housecleaning, to avoid confusion, SW King Avenue and SW Kings Court should be renamed SW Amos Nahum King Avenue and SW Amos Nahum King's Court, after the pioneer landowner from whose name those streets' monikers were derived.
"And the snark about pronunciation? Again, give me a break. When one hears Chavez' first name pronounced by anyone who hasn't studied Spanish, it's almost always rendered as something like SEE-zur."
he's American. his first name, in fact, appears in many different languages, only one of which is Spanish. it's got several pronunciations. it's not even pronounced quite the same in Spain as in Mexico.
"As an aside, I wonder how many readers of this blog are not white males."
what's wrong with being a "white male"? are you saying "white males" have certain racial and gender traits? because that's called racism and sexism. are you racist?
and speaking of snarky, i think you win Mayor of Snarkytown today, "joe bob".
"Those objections are just silly. "Glisan and Chavez" is supposed to be somehow harder to say than "Glisan and Thirty-ninth"? GIVE ME A BREAK."
Ok, how about this objection:
The massive expenditure necessary by Jebus-knows-who to re-sign, re-address, reprint, and remap EVERYTHING that uses ANY ADDRESS ALONG THE STREET.
By the way, 39th is mostly residential, so you don't even get to pass the "evil corporate" buck on this one. These are regular people that are gonna get screwed with their pants on, from the Banfield to Milwaukie.
Why can't they name a park, school, library, civic center, or other meaningful public property after him again? Naming a strip of pavement after someone is useless, and has absolutely NOTHING to do with what Chavez worked for.
I wonder is putting his name on 39th is just to forcefully make the point that even in a relatively upper middle class neighborhood, there can be "progressive" attitudes. Or is it just a coincidence that the last idea they had was downtown on 4th Avenue (another place that is arguably more about white collar jobs and business than any cultural or historic reference)?
I was present in the auditors office on the 23rd, when a petition was being submitted. I overheard discussion of signatures being obtained from high school students. If someone wants to focus on "process" they might inquire about whether any signatures were gathered on any PPS high school property, and whether it is a proper place for someone to gather signatures on an initiative campaign. Ask how the OEA would address a Sizemore petition conducted on public school property. (Or a city hall restroom: "Here, would you like to sign this petition?")
he's American. his first name, in fact, appears in many different languages, only one of which is Spanish. it's got several pronunciations. it's not even pronounced quite the same in Spain as in Mexico.
My experience using my bad Spanish in several countries is that the pronunciation of "César" does not vary.
BTW, when you spend time in Latin America, you quickly discover that folks there also consider themselves "American". They live in "America" (what we call "the Americas" in English) as well. That's why the Spanish speakers amongst them, at least, commonly refer to US citizens as "norteamericanos".
are you saying "white males" have certain racial and gender traits?
No, are you?
Ok, how about this objection:
The massive expenditure necessary by Jebus-knows-who to re-sign, re-address, reprint, and remap EVERYTHING that uses ANY ADDRESS ALONG THE STREET.
By the way, 39th is mostly residential, so you don't even get to pass the "evil corporate" buck on this one. These are regular people that are gonna get screwed with their pants on, from the Banfield to Milwaukie.
There was a quite widespread renaming/renumbering of streets all through what is now the east side of Portland in 1931. Here's the verbiage from the Wikipedia page on Portland:
"In 1891 the cities of Portland, Albina, and East Portland were consolidated, and duplicate street names were given new names. The 'great renumbering' on September 2, 1931 standardized street naming patterns, and changed house numbers from 20 per block to 100 per block. It divided Portland into five sections: Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, North, and Northeast. Burnside St. divides north and south, and the Willamette River divides east and west."
I still see evidence of the 1931 renumbering in the form of street names "embedded" in curbs in my neighborhood (Hollywood District/Grant Park). It would be interesting to know how Portlanders felt about the renaming and renumbering at that time.
There was some street renaming done after the US entered World War I to get rid of Germanic street names. This is all described in some detail in the fascinating (for local history buffs, at least) book Portland Names and Neighborhoods: Their Historic Origins, by Eugene Snyder.
Point is, renaming streets in Portland is hardly a new phenomenon.
"Evil corporate" buck? Sorry, I don't follow. Exactly how is it that "regular people...are gonna get screwed with their pants on" if 39th Avenue is renamed?
If someone wants to focus on "process" they might inquire about whether any signatures were gathered on any PPS high school property, and whether it is a proper place for someone to gather signatures on an initiative campaign. Ask how the OEA would address a Sizemore petition conducted on public school property.
As far as I know, a petition to rename a street is quite distinct from a state-wide ballot initiative campaign. I believe whatever restrictions exist on collecting signatures for ballot initiatives (Sizemore-sponsored or otherwise) are laid out in state law. Given that I'm regularly waylaid by petition signature gatherers in front of my neighborhood library, I don't think public property is somehow off-limits....
seems that a lawyer needs to answer here.
And I don't follow the reference to the OEA, as I am unaware that the OEA has any role in the Chavez renaming effort.
I'm kind of dumb. Can you explain to me how renaming a street provides any real benefit to anyone? The historic street name changes you provide above served the very real purpose of preventing people from getting the wrong mail, or preventing others from getting lost. German names may have changed after WWI, but that was (duh) due to the negative association with the enemy. Just as Frankfurter became Hot Dog, and Hamburger became Salisbury Steak, and French Fries became Freedom ..., well, never mind.
The point is, what real, tangible benefit is there to changing the name of a well-established street? There are plenty of reasons not to. I'm guessing you never owned a business where $1,000.00 for new stationery was a great deal. And I guess all the street signs, maps, etc., just magically appear out of thin air, right? Unless you are suggesting this is an opportunity for job creation. Because there are a lot more worthy causes to divert whatever money is available for creating jobs that satisfy a real need. So again, I ask you: How is one single person's life improved by the renaming of a street?
"There are plenty of reasons not to. I'm guessing you never owned a business where $1,000.00 for new stationery was a great deal. And I guess all the street signs, maps, etc., just magically appear out of thin air, right?"
How about everyone on the affected street gets $500 in compensation paid for by the members of the group attempting to bring about the name change.
Can anyone give a good reason why a park CAN'T be named for him. Why do they insist on a street?
It seems like the committee pulled three three streets out of their, er, hats.
If a place near Portland needs to bear Chavez's name, what about Delta Park? That makes much more sense and wouldn't result in unwanted expenses to businesses. It would be more likely to generate goodwill.
If the committee wants to choose a street, why not nominate a major street in Gresham or Hillsboro where a much larger Hispanic community resides?
I'll second NW Portlander--a Cesar Chavez Boulevard in some place like Cornelius or Woodburn (more than 50% Hispanic and rural) would make a lot more sense. 39th doesn't make sense, and Broadway and Grand even less so.
Heck, if they were to ever build a new road somewhere, that'd be a perfect spot.
Unfortunately common sense about naming something went out the window a long time ago. When the proponents couldn't get Interstated named for Chavez they were fixated on another street and no park would be good enough. God forbid they only get a park when Dr. Martin Luther King got a street!
Well now that the Latinos (Mexican-Americans, et al) are guaranteed to have their self-esteem boosted by having a street named after one of their heros...what about the Vietnamese? Finns? Swedes? Russians? Ukrainians?
How will THEY manage? My god! They must be wallowing in self-loathing because no one in this racist city has thought to name a street after any of them!
Oh the humanity. How will they go on!?
A park is a place where people interact and enjoy life (in honor of those who have left this life?). A street is a dirty, dangerous stretch of asphalt trodden upon 24-7. Now that's a helluva tribute!
I've never liked the name Barbur Blvd. I'd be for it changing to Chavez.
Several people opposing the Interstate name change were instead floating the idea of Delta Park. I think in the long run it will be viewed as an opportunity missed. Not even considering a regional park that could have a memorial and garden, for a traffic clogged street. Way to go!
Barbur Boulevard is of great historical significance, and is one of the few instances around here where it was truly appropriate to give the street the name. Barbur Boulevard follows the route of an interurban railroad. When the railroad closed down in the 1920s, the right of way was converted to a highway. Because it was a new road right of way that didn't fit the grid pattern, it needed a name. It was named after A.L. Barbur, a city commissioner who was a passionate advocate of better roads.
I say we end this nonsense and name Gresham, "Mexico" would that satisfy the Chavez goofballs? or how about just name Portland "Illegal Immigrant Haven".
"My experience using my bad Spanish in several countries is that the pronunciation of "César" does not vary."
so?
"BTW, when you spend time in Latin America, you quickly discover that folks there also consider themselves "American". They live in "America""
been there, done that, spoke the language. one thing I'm sure of--just because it says "Latin America" on maps doesn't mean folks there call themselves "Americans".
so, Mayor of Snarkytown, what next?
"are you saying "white males" have certain racial and gender traits?
No, are you?"
No, are you?
keep going, "joe bob." so far, your Googling skills and snarky tossing off aren't impressing anybody.
Actually I'm tired of the whole thing. Isn't there anyone on the city council with enough spine to tell these Chavez goofballs to go shove their re-naming crap. I'd think that re-naming streets would rank about #959 on my top ten list of things to worry about.
I agree that a moratorium should be placed on all street renaming until we are in better financial shape, as a city, to deal with it.
It is not necessary. It will cost people who have no stake in the renaming a lot of money they don't have to spend. The choices make no sense and do not in any way relate to Chavez or the Hispanic community.
Why shouldn't the Hispanic community set its sights higher and aim for a major street in Salem? There's a huge Hispanic community in Marion County.
Forgot to add . . . what makes more sense: hundreds of new street signs and an expensive mediation process or filling potholes and surfacing on existing roads with perfectly good names?
Or tell the petitioners that they can have their way if they cover the costs for the re-signing, mediation and new stationery and yellow pages listings for all businesses effected.
I've never liked the name Barbur Blvd. I'd be for it changing to Chavez.
I'd trade the silly renaming for a guarantee that they're never going to put light rail down Barbur and reduce a major thoroughfare to one lane in each direction.
I'll second NW Portlander--a Cesar Chavez Boulevard in some place like Cornelius or Woodburn (more than 50% Hispanic and rural) would make a lot more sense.
Um, what's the principle here? Street names have to reflect the local ethnic makeup of the population at any point in time? We'll be doing one hell of a lot of renaming if that's the approach.
PDX native: It's interesting to reflect on the way that Germanic street names were eliminated after the US entered World War I. (The same thing happened all over the US, by the way.) The US had had German immigrants for a long time as of 1917; why were German names suddenly offensive? Also, please note that the commander of US forces in Europe in World War II was of German descent (Eisenhower). I don't recall any protests against him on account of his name.
I agree with you to a certain extent about the benefits of changing place names. There is unlikely to be any monetary benefit to renaming 39th Avenue (say) as Cesar Chavez. But perhaps here's where we part ways. Not everything done by either individuals or society is done for monetary benefit. I would have thought this goes without saying.
Roner in the night: Our experiences in Latin America differ. And Eugene Snyder's book Portland Names and Neighborhoods: Their Historic Origins sits on my bookshelf. I didn't Google anything; I pulled the book off the shelf. You can get it yourself at either Powell's or the public (aka "socialistic") library.
NW Portlander wrote: "Why shouldn't the Hispanic community set its sights higher and aim for a major street in Salem? There's a huge Hispanic community in Marion County."
I just don't follow this sort of remark. Is the idea that one cannot honor Chavez unless one is Hispanic? There's a troubling sort of assumption here.
You said, “Not everything done by either individuals or society is done for monetary benefit. I would have thought this goes without saying.”
Well, I agree. It should have gone without saying. So why did you say it? Because I said:
“Can you explain to me how renaming a street provides any real benefit to anyone?”
and,
“How is one single person's life improved by the renaming of a street?”
How you infer a question of “monetary benefit” is beyond me. Other than the typical fallacy of introducing a bogus reference and arguing against it. I was questioning how the quality of life or one’s self-esteem is elevated by the renaming of a street for any reason.
As a third generation Portland American with pure Italian heritage, I can tell you that my life would not be enhanced by the renaming of an existing street to Galileo Drive, or Medici Avenue, or Guido Sarducci Boulevard... But you imply that life or self-esteem for an Hispanic person or any other person will somehow improve by the renaming of an established street. I simply don’t get it. And I really would like you to suggest one single benefit to me.
And your comments regarding the change of names during a war and Eisenhower’s descent are simply too trite to even politely address here.
Setting aside my questions from earlier this year about what, if any, connections Chavez had to Portland, I do have to ask...
If 39th is named for Chavez, does this mean I'll finally be able to get some decent Mexican food in central Portland, aside from the places on Alberta street or out in Cully ? I mean, those are great taco stands and restaurants, and I live in that part of town for mainly this reason, but if there were actually honest-to-God Mexicans and Mexican food down on Hawthorne or Belmont, now that would make my whole year ! No more driving back to my neck of the woods when I'm stuck working over in the whitest neighborhoods in the whitest city in America !
Now, a stand serving Cesos out on 39th and Belmont...mmmm, Cesos...I can only imagine the stunned, horrified look on the faces of the legions of white vegans who plague SE.
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Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (38)
At least the members of the group are sensible.
They each have reasons to support a name change, but they also all have experience being subjected to unexpected large expenses, so they should identify with business concerns.
They might surprise everyone and make a wise decision on this.
Posted by Jim | February 12, 2009 6:31 AM
Did you know that the head of a bureau can create a private corporation and then put out a RFP and then award their own corporation the money?
I made a public records request just two weeks ago seeking access to any record of communications that this issue was discussed (cleared) either with the city auditor or the human resources department.
The city auditor's office claims that they have no record.
The general question I have is does our City Auditor recognize ordinary corruption when it is glaringly obvious? If not, how could we expect him root out any corruption that is any more subtle or any more sophisticated?
Posted by pdxnag | February 12, 2009 6:48 AM
If the criteria they are using for selecting which strip of pavement to name after Chavez is "history" then there will be no doubt that 39th will be renamed.
This way, we can end up with such mouthfuls as "the traffic circle at Glisan and Chavez" and "the Fred Meyer at Hawthorne and Chavez"
The one thing that might prevent this, of course, is the well-to-do that live in Laurelhurst putting up a big enough stink to make it go away.
Posted by MachineShedFred | February 12, 2009 8:18 AM
Thanks Jack. I've had 1900 Fourth Street Room 2500 A, 10-12 in my diary for weeks, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it meant.
Check Blogtown for an update around 1pm.
Posted by Matt Davis | February 12, 2009 8:35 AM
Dear Cesar,
We are gaming the system so we can defeat anybody who doesn't want a strip of pavement named after you. We will not rest until that strip of pavement bears your name. Anybody who opposes us is obviously a racist or a pavement hater.
Because, after all--what better way to honor someone who fought for farm workers than naming a strip of pavement after them?
Sincerely,
The Friends of Democracy (and Political Correctness)
Posted by Another Roner in the Night | February 12, 2009 8:40 AM
Two of the tree choices for renaming, Broadway and Grand, are clearly ineligible to be renamed according to the city code. To review:
17.93.020 Selection of Street to be Renamed.
A. The name of the street proposed for renaming shall not be changed if the existing name is of historic significance, or the street is significant in its own right.
To argue that Broadway is not historic or significant (Broadway Bridge, long time Theater District, and the first two African American neighborhoods that were each side of the Broadway Bridge)is absurd.
As for Grand Avenue, look no further than the East Portland/Grand Avenue Historic District on Portland Online, or more to the point, the street signs in the district that proclaim it.
A qoute from Cesar E. Chavez Blvd organizer Marta Guembes in the Portland Mercury June 26 2008:
"We're looking through the code, and will be following what we need to follow." Guembes says she and others involved in the original effort "learned from it,"
Given the obvious, this begs the question. Are the Chavez Blvd supporters choosing the streets for political leverage, in hopes to gain more from defeat than a victory? If this is the case it is very cynical indeed.
As for 39th it seems to be a fine choice, IF it is supported by a majority of the residents who surround it. Otherwise I would not wish smears and recriminations experienced by the neighbors around Interstate on anyone.
Posted by Dan Haneckow | February 12, 2009 8:56 AM
I so don't get this.
A park is a much better monument to Chavez, someone who believed in human dignity and the right of the very poorest and most oppressed to have safe working conditions and to earn enough to have a little relaxation now and then.
It really seems that the main motivation of the backers is jamming any resistance to the name change down the city's throats --- flexing muscle rather than honoring Cesar Chavez or the UFW.
I hope the members of the committee reject the renaming on the reverse basis --- that naming a street after Chavez is not nearly enough of an honor, and that Portland needs to find a public facility such as a park or library instead -- something that does honor to the man, rather than just commemorates a nasty incident and the flexing of political muscle.
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | February 12, 2009 8:59 AM
MachineShedFred says: This way, we can end up with such mouthfuls as "the traffic circle at Glisan and Chavez" and "the Fred Meyer at Hawthorne and Chavez"
Unfortunately, you will have to say "the traffic circle at Glisan and César Estrada Chávez Boulevard." Here are the rules regarding street naming:
1. If the street is named after a dead white guy, only the last name is used. Correct pronunciation is optional. Sorry, Rodney Glisan.
2. If the street is named after a civil rights or labor activist, the full name must be used. Every effort must be used to pronounce the name with the same accent native to the language of the person after whom the street is named.
Posted by Garage Wine | February 12, 2009 10:02 AM
Jack, I know you and I have many disagreements when it comes to politics, but I want to say thank you for keeping on top of all these city shenanigans. In my book you're the best city watchdog in Portland ;)
Posted by Joey Link | February 12, 2009 10:23 AM
Gosh, this really feels like much ado about a very, very small matter.
I so don't get this. A park is a much better monument to Chavez, someone who believed in human dignity and the right of the very poorest and most oppressed to have safe working conditions and to earn enough to have a little relaxation now and then.
I tend to agree, but I am perfectly comfortable with the street renaming as well.
This way, we can end up with such mouthfuls as "the traffic circle at Glisan and Chavez" and "the Fred Meyer at Hawthorne and Chavez."
Unfortunately, you will have to say "the traffic circle at Glisan and César Estrada Chávez Boulevard." Here are the rules regarding street naming:
1. If the street is named after a dead white guy, only the last name is used. Correct pronunciation is optional. Sorry, Rodney Glisan.
2. If the street is named after a civil rights or labor activist, the full name must be used. Every effort must be used to pronounce the name with the same accent native to the language of the person after whom the street is named.
Those objections are just silly. "Glisan and Chavez" is supposed to be somehow harder to say than "Glisan and Thirty-ninth"? GIVE ME A BREAK.
As for the first name vs. surname only rigamarole: fine, rename all streets that are named for people using the full name. FWIW, this sort of street naming is extremely common in other countries.
And the snark about pronunciation? Again, give me a break. When one hears Chavez' first name pronounced by anyone who hasn't studied Spanish, it's almost always rendered as something like SEE-zur.
As an aside, I wonder how many readers of this blog are not white males.
Posted by joe bob | February 12, 2009 12:14 PM
As long as we're housecleaning, to avoid confusion, SW King Avenue and SW Kings Court should be renamed SW Amos Nahum King Avenue and SW Amos Nahum King's Court, after the pioneer landowner from whose name those streets' monikers were derived.
Posted by Isaac Laquedem | February 12, 2009 12:42 PM
"And the snark about pronunciation? Again, give me a break. When one hears Chavez' first name pronounced by anyone who hasn't studied Spanish, it's almost always rendered as something like SEE-zur."
he's American. his first name, in fact, appears in many different languages, only one of which is Spanish. it's got several pronunciations. it's not even pronounced quite the same in Spain as in Mexico.
"As an aside, I wonder how many readers of this blog are not white males."
what's wrong with being a "white male"? are you saying "white males" have certain racial and gender traits? because that's called racism and sexism. are you racist?
and speaking of snarky, i think you win Mayor of Snarkytown today, "joe bob".
Posted by Another Roner in the Night | February 12, 2009 1:09 PM
As an aside, I wonder how many readers of this blog are not white males.
I'm not a white male.
Posted by Irene | February 12, 2009 1:43 PM
"Those objections are just silly. "Glisan and Chavez" is supposed to be somehow harder to say than "Glisan and Thirty-ninth"? GIVE ME A BREAK."
Ok, how about this objection:
The massive expenditure necessary by Jebus-knows-who to re-sign, re-address, reprint, and remap EVERYTHING that uses ANY ADDRESS ALONG THE STREET.
By the way, 39th is mostly residential, so you don't even get to pass the "evil corporate" buck on this one. These are regular people that are gonna get screwed with their pants on, from the Banfield to Milwaukie.
Why can't they name a park, school, library, civic center, or other meaningful public property after him again? Naming a strip of pavement after someone is useless, and has absolutely NOTHING to do with what Chavez worked for.
Posted by MachineShedFred | February 12, 2009 2:42 PM
I wonder is putting his name on 39th is just to forcefully make the point that even in a relatively upper middle class neighborhood, there can be "progressive" attitudes. Or is it just a coincidence that the last idea they had was downtown on 4th Avenue (another place that is arguably more about white collar jobs and business than any cultural or historic reference)?
Posted by Mike (the other one) | February 12, 2009 3:05 PM
I was present in the auditors office on the 23rd, when a petition was being submitted. I overheard discussion of signatures being obtained from high school students. If someone wants to focus on "process" they might inquire about whether any signatures were gathered on any PPS high school property, and whether it is a proper place for someone to gather signatures on an initiative campaign. Ask how the OEA would address a Sizemore petition conducted on public school property. (Or a city hall restroom: "Here, would you like to sign this petition?")
Posted by pdxnag | February 12, 2009 3:17 PM
he's American. his first name, in fact, appears in many different languages, only one of which is Spanish. it's got several pronunciations. it's not even pronounced quite the same in Spain as in Mexico.
My experience using my bad Spanish in several countries is that the pronunciation of "César" does not vary.
BTW, when you spend time in Latin America, you quickly discover that folks there also consider themselves "American". They live in "America" (what we call "the Americas" in English) as well. That's why the Spanish speakers amongst them, at least, commonly refer to US citizens as "norteamericanos".
are you saying "white males" have certain racial and gender traits?
No, are you?
Ok, how about this objection:
The massive expenditure necessary by Jebus-knows-who to re-sign, re-address, reprint, and remap EVERYTHING that uses ANY ADDRESS ALONG THE STREET.
By the way, 39th is mostly residential, so you don't even get to pass the "evil corporate" buck on this one. These are regular people that are gonna get screwed with their pants on, from the Banfield to Milwaukie.
There was a quite widespread renaming/renumbering of streets all through what is now the east side of Portland in 1931. Here's the verbiage from the Wikipedia page on Portland:
"In 1891 the cities of Portland, Albina, and East Portland were consolidated, and duplicate street names were given new names. The 'great renumbering' on September 2, 1931 standardized street naming patterns, and changed house numbers from 20 per block to 100 per block. It divided Portland into five sections: Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, North, and Northeast. Burnside St. divides north and south, and the Willamette River divides east and west."
I still see evidence of the 1931 renumbering in the form of street names "embedded" in curbs in my neighborhood (Hollywood District/Grant Park). It would be interesting to know how Portlanders felt about the renaming and renumbering at that time.
There was some street renaming done after the US entered World War I to get rid of Germanic street names. This is all described in some detail in the fascinating (for local history buffs, at least) book Portland Names and Neighborhoods: Their Historic Origins, by Eugene Snyder.
Point is, renaming streets in Portland is hardly a new phenomenon.
"Evil corporate" buck? Sorry, I don't follow. Exactly how is it that "regular people...are gonna get screwed with their pants on" if 39th Avenue is renamed?
Posted by joe bob | February 12, 2009 3:32 PM
If someone wants to focus on "process" they might inquire about whether any signatures were gathered on any PPS high school property, and whether it is a proper place for someone to gather signatures on an initiative campaign. Ask how the OEA would address a Sizemore petition conducted on public school property.
As far as I know, a petition to rename a street is quite distinct from a state-wide ballot initiative campaign. I believe whatever restrictions exist on collecting signatures for ballot initiatives (Sizemore-sponsored or otherwise) are laid out in state law. Given that I'm regularly waylaid by petition signature gatherers in front of my neighborhood library, I don't think public property is somehow off-limits....
seems that a lawyer needs to answer here.
And I don't follow the reference to the OEA, as I am unaware that the OEA has any role in the Chavez renaming effort.
Posted by joe bob | February 12, 2009 3:41 PM
Joe bob,
I'm kind of dumb. Can you explain to me how renaming a street provides any real benefit to anyone? The historic street name changes you provide above served the very real purpose of preventing people from getting the wrong mail, or preventing others from getting lost. German names may have changed after WWI, but that was (duh) due to the negative association with the enemy. Just as Frankfurter became Hot Dog, and Hamburger became Salisbury Steak, and French Fries became Freedom ..., well, never mind.
The point is, what real, tangible benefit is there to changing the name of a well-established street? There are plenty of reasons not to. I'm guessing you never owned a business where $1,000.00 for new stationery was a great deal. And I guess all the street signs, maps, etc., just magically appear out of thin air, right? Unless you are suggesting this is an opportunity for job creation. Because there are a lot more worthy causes to divert whatever money is available for creating jobs that satisfy a real need. So again, I ask you: How is one single person's life improved by the renaming of a street?
I truly am too disconnected to understand.
Posted by PDX Native | February 12, 2009 3:58 PM
"There are plenty of reasons not to. I'm guessing you never owned a business where $1,000.00 for new stationery was a great deal. And I guess all the street signs, maps, etc., just magically appear out of thin air, right?"
How about everyone on the affected street gets $500 in compensation paid for by the members of the group attempting to bring about the name change.
Can anyone give a good reason why a park CAN'T be named for him. Why do they insist on a street?
Posted by mp97303 | February 12, 2009 4:10 PM
On the three-streets ploy: What if they proposed 10 streets? Or 20? Would the city consider them all?
Posted by Jack Bog | February 12, 2009 5:04 PM
It seems like the committee pulled three three streets out of their, er, hats.
If a place near Portland needs to bear Chavez's name, what about Delta Park? That makes much more sense and wouldn't result in unwanted expenses to businesses. It would be more likely to generate goodwill.
If the committee wants to choose a street, why not nominate a major street in Gresham or Hillsboro where a much larger Hispanic community resides?
Posted by NW Portlander | February 12, 2009 5:25 PM
I'll second NW Portlander--a Cesar Chavez Boulevard in some place like Cornelius or Woodburn (more than 50% Hispanic and rural) would make a lot more sense. 39th doesn't make sense, and Broadway and Grand even less so.
Heck, if they were to ever build a new road somewhere, that'd be a perfect spot.
Posted by Alex | February 12, 2009 6:04 PM
Unfortunately common sense about naming something went out the window a long time ago. When the proponents couldn't get Interstated named for Chavez they were fixated on another street and no park would be good enough. God forbid they only get a park when Dr. Martin Luther King got a street!
Posted by cbb | February 12, 2009 6:04 PM
Well now that the Latinos (Mexican-Americans, et al) are guaranteed to have their self-esteem boosted by having a street named after one of their heros...what about the Vietnamese? Finns? Swedes? Russians? Ukrainians?
How will THEY manage? My god! They must be wallowing in self-loathing because no one in this racist city has thought to name a street after any of them!
Oh the humanity. How will they go on!?
Posted by dm | February 12, 2009 6:20 PM
But that's the irony!
A park is a place where people interact and enjoy life (in honor of those who have left this life?). A street is a dirty, dangerous stretch of asphalt trodden upon 24-7. Now that's a helluva tribute!
Posted by PDX Native | February 12, 2009 6:22 PM
I've never liked the name Barbur Blvd. I'd be for it changing to Chavez.
Several people opposing the Interstate name change were instead floating the idea of Delta Park. I think in the long run it will be viewed as an opportunity missed. Not even considering a regional park that could have a memorial and garden, for a traffic clogged street. Way to go!
Posted by MarkDaMan | February 12, 2009 7:03 PM
Barbur Boulevard is of great historical significance, and is one of the few instances around here where it was truly appropriate to give the street the name. Barbur Boulevard follows the route of an interurban railroad. When the railroad closed down in the 1920s, the right of way was converted to a highway. Because it was a new road right of way that didn't fit the grid pattern, it needed a name. It was named after A.L. Barbur, a city commissioner who was a passionate advocate of better roads.
Posted by Isaac Laquedem | February 12, 2009 7:55 PM
I say we end this nonsense and name Gresham, "Mexico" would that satisfy the Chavez goofballs? or how about just name Portland "Illegal Immigrant Haven".
Posted by jocoze | February 12, 2009 9:19 PM
"My experience using my bad Spanish in several countries is that the pronunciation of "César" does not vary."
so?
"BTW, when you spend time in Latin America, you quickly discover that folks there also consider themselves "American". They live in "America""
been there, done that, spoke the language. one thing I'm sure of--just because it says "Latin America" on maps doesn't mean folks there call themselves "Americans".
so, Mayor of Snarkytown, what next?
"are you saying "white males" have certain racial and gender traits?
No, are you?"
No, are you?
keep going, "joe bob." so far, your Googling skills and snarky tossing off aren't impressing anybody.
Posted by ANother Roner in the Night | February 13, 2009 6:51 AM
Actually I'm tired of the whole thing. Isn't there anyone on the city council with enough spine to tell these Chavez goofballs to go shove their re-naming crap. I'd think that re-naming streets would rank about #959 on my top ten list of things to worry about.
Posted by andy | February 13, 2009 10:15 AM
I agree that a moratorium should be placed on all street renaming until we are in better financial shape, as a city, to deal with it.
It is not necessary. It will cost people who have no stake in the renaming a lot of money they don't have to spend. The choices make no sense and do not in any way relate to Chavez or the Hispanic community.
Why shouldn't the Hispanic community set its sights higher and aim for a major street in Salem? There's a huge Hispanic community in Marion County.
Posted by NW Portlander | February 13, 2009 6:54 PM
Forgot to add . . . what makes more sense: hundreds of new street signs and an expensive mediation process or filling potholes and surfacing on existing roads with perfectly good names?
Or tell the petitioners that they can have their way if they cover the costs for the re-signing, mediation and new stationery and yellow pages listings for all businesses effected.
Posted by NW Portlander | February 13, 2009 6:58 PM
I've never liked the name Barbur Blvd. I'd be for it changing to Chavez.
I'd trade the silly renaming for a guarantee that they're never going to put light rail down Barbur and reduce a major thoroughfare to one lane in each direction.
Posted by Krasnaya Zvezda | February 13, 2009 9:04 PM
I'll second NW Portlander--a Cesar Chavez Boulevard in some place like Cornelius or Woodburn (more than 50% Hispanic and rural) would make a lot more sense.
Um, what's the principle here? Street names have to reflect the local ethnic makeup of the population at any point in time? We'll be doing one hell of a lot of renaming if that's the approach.
PDX native: It's interesting to reflect on the way that Germanic street names were eliminated after the US entered World War I. (The same thing happened all over the US, by the way.) The US had had German immigrants for a long time as of 1917; why were German names suddenly offensive? Also, please note that the commander of US forces in Europe in World War II was of German descent (Eisenhower). I don't recall any protests against him on account of his name.
I agree with you to a certain extent about the benefits of changing place names. There is unlikely to be any monetary benefit to renaming 39th Avenue (say) as Cesar Chavez. But perhaps here's where we part ways. Not everything done by either individuals or society is done for monetary benefit. I would have thought this goes without saying.
Roner in the night: Our experiences in Latin America differ. And Eugene Snyder's book Portland Names and Neighborhoods: Their Historic Origins sits on my bookshelf. I didn't Google anything; I pulled the book off the shelf. You can get it yourself at either Powell's or the public (aka "socialistic") library.
Posted by joe bob | February 14, 2009 2:21 PM
NW Portlander wrote: "Why shouldn't the Hispanic community set its sights higher and aim for a major street in Salem? There's a huge Hispanic community in Marion County."
I just don't follow this sort of remark. Is the idea that one cannot honor Chavez unless one is Hispanic? There's a troubling sort of assumption here.
Posted by joe bob | February 14, 2009 2:27 PM
“Joe bob,”
You said, “Not everything done by either individuals or society is done for monetary benefit. I would have thought this goes without saying.”
Well, I agree. It should have gone without saying. So why did you say it? Because I said:
“Can you explain to me how renaming a street provides any real benefit to anyone?”
and,
“How is one single person's life improved by the renaming of a street?”
How you infer a question of “monetary benefit” is beyond me. Other than the typical fallacy of introducing a bogus reference and arguing against it. I was questioning how the quality of life or one’s self-esteem is elevated by the renaming of a street for any reason.
As a third generation Portland American with pure Italian heritage, I can tell you that my life would not be enhanced by the renaming of an existing street to Galileo Drive, or Medici Avenue, or Guido Sarducci Boulevard... But you imply that life or self-esteem for an Hispanic person or any other person will somehow improve by the renaming of an established street. I simply don’t get it. And I really would like you to suggest one single benefit to me.
And your comments regarding the change of names during a war and Eisenhower’s descent are simply too trite to even politely address here.
Posted by PDX Native | February 14, 2009 7:20 PM
Setting aside my questions from earlier this year about what, if any, connections Chavez had to Portland, I do have to ask...
If 39th is named for Chavez, does this mean I'll finally be able to get some decent Mexican food in central Portland, aside from the places on Alberta street or out in Cully ? I mean, those are great taco stands and restaurants, and I live in that part of town for mainly this reason, but if there were actually honest-to-God Mexicans and Mexican food down on Hawthorne or Belmont, now that would make my whole year ! No more driving back to my neck of the woods when I'm stuck working over in the whitest neighborhoods in the whitest city in America !
Now, a stand serving Cesos out on 39th and Belmont...mmmm, Cesos...I can only imagine the stunned, horrified look on the faces of the legions of white vegans who plague SE.
Posted by Cabbie | February 15, 2009 12:39 AM