14th?

One claim could involve discriminating against the Adams folks in favor of another with a message with which the city agrees -- hence a freedom of speech issue. In any event, all claims against the city would "go through" the 14th Amendment, and so you are definitely right.

The First Amendment hasn't been a problem since about January 2001.

The Chavez renaming came up on a recent car trip and my question about that - to someone who has some involvement in these matters - holds equally true for the DNA (Mr. Adam's initials) renaming effort, to wit...

What the good, god damn, bloody hell do either of these folks have to do with our fair city?

My review of Wikipedia gives no hint as to Mr. Adam's connection with Portland. The best I got is an establishment near my house called "The Pub at the End of the Universe" which is not on 42nd. Same for Chavez, at least he is an historical figure, but surely there is some figure of historical signifigance in Hispanic culture that has a true connection to Portland if we really must go through this, IMHO, pointless and costly process!

How much asphalt would $35k buy? I got potholes on my street I;d like fixed.

My grandmother lived on Northeast 42nd for 40 years (she is now in a nursing home), and I can say with confidence that she would prefer that the street be named after either Dale Carnegie or Jaqueline Susanne.

Thanks to Jack for posting the information. We picked Douglas Adams for a few reasons:

1 - His commitment to the environment. Douglas Adams spent years supporting and organizing events to protect endangered species. Something many Portlanders claim to support.

2 - Adams pushed for technology for all. He believed a greater access to technology would help to build bridges around the world. Again, this is something Portland claims to support.

3 - Adams' fiction inspired many people to enter the scientific and technical occupations. Again, many a Portlander credits Douglas Adams with their career choice.

Please note. I have nothing against Cesar Chavez. Indeed, my own family benefited from his work within the labor movement. The main reason we are raising a "stink" over the Cesar Chavez street name movement is because the City appears to be circumventing their own rules.

As we stated on the website. We did drop the ball on following up with our initial application. However, if our resubmitted application still precedes the Cesar Chavez application, ours should receive preference.

However, if the people behind the Cesar Chavez proposal preceded our second application, so be it. We can wait until 2009.

Again, thanks to all that continue to show support for our cause.

-Aaron Duran

I want Hawthorne renamed after Linus Pauling!

He lived on it. The house is still there with a big bright sculpture in the yard. He left a huge legacy as a scientist, and he was also an important peace activist. He also left a legacy as an advocate for micro-nutrient research when that kind of thing was considered wacko.

I love the idea that one of our best pedestrian areas would have its major boulevard named after a boy who lived there and went on to international achievement bettering the welfare of humanity as a scientist and peace activist. What a good local boy to name a boulevard after!

Sorry, Hawthorne Boulevard is already named after a Portland pioneer, Dr. Hawthorne, the first director of Portland's first insane asylum. It won't happen.

I'd suspect that pesky language in the First Amendment "the right ... to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Supported, of course by the 14th.

As noted, many of these promises of civil liberties have been breached without so much as a wimper from our elected officials. This tends to make me think that our "civil rights" are something of a cruel joke.

Note to self: Don't forget your towel for City meetings.

If a "facilitator" is necessary the committee making the proposal for a street name change should foot the bill. This guy (or gal) hired by the City is going to be advocating on their behalf. That's unprecedented and it's not fair. The City should NOT be taking sides or moving this one to the top of the priorities list when they have bigger fish to fry.

They'd find a way if it was going to be called SAM Adams Blvd

Sam is dead?

Oh, wait...That's 'city policy' which has no effect or legal status whatsoever. It's merely a bunch of lies to cover up awarding no-bid contracts to family and friends.

I believe the Douglas Adams contingent also has another legal challenge for the city. It is not legal for the city to have a paid advocate for a position that has public hearings and a due process.

It should be challenged and they'd win. It is time for Portland's city government to be honoring the law and its own statutes.

I've never understood why the City should be expending resources on assessing or shaping public sentiment around this issue.

If a group approaches City Council having already established broad consensus -- and by that, I mean REALLY broad consensus -- I think City Council should act.

But in the absence of that, I really just don't see the value to Portland taxpayers to renaming a street. I just don't get it.