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Thursday, October 4, 2007
Politics Last Night’s Chávez/Interstate Meeting: “Less of a Public Forum and More of a Public Advocacy Meeting.”
Posted by on Thu, Oct 4 at 10:58 AM
Those are the words of Bill Mildenberger Jr, manager of the Nite Hawk Café & Lounge on Interstate, following last night’s meeting over the proposed Interstate rename. Mildenberger has been organizing the businesses’ opposition to the rename, citing issues like the cost to businesses, and the loss of the Interstate “brand.”
“I’m as upset as I’ve ever been,” he says. “Last night was supposed to be a public forum where the public had a chance to express their support or opposition. It was held in a public grade school, and open to the public. But I couldn’t believe how orchestrated and biased it was in favor of the mayor’s position, in favor of that they want to change the name.”
Mildenberger made his case: The hall outside the school’s auditorium had three tables set up—one had neighborhood newspapers, nametags, speakers’ sign up sheets, and info sheets from the Chávez committee. The other two appeared to be hosted by the Chávez committee or El Hispanic News—the newspaper’s vice president, Melanie Davis, was personally hosting a table filled with delicious snacks, including sweet empanadas and pan dulce (YUM). However, there was “not one table for opposition to it,” Mildenberger pointed out.
Additionally, the meeting was held in an auditorium adorned with banners like the one below, alongside several large yellow posters with the “Si Se Puede” motto, and even a band playing in support of the rename at the end of the meeting.
The Chávez committee and the mayor had the first chunk of time to make their presentation in favor of the change. But, Mildenberger says, “not one citizen or representative opposed to the idea was given any forum to raise issues important to them.” (He’s hoping to get some presentation time on the agenda for next Tuesday night’s meeting, but so far, he says the mayor’s staff hasn’t called him back “in the four or five weeks I’ve been calling.”)
“I didn’t see last night as a very appropriate,” Mildenberger says. “My phone is ringing off the hook with people who are upset about last night’s meeting.”
Meanwhile, Mildenberger still wants to sit down with the Chávez committee and craft a compromise. “I think that the citizens of North Portland and the César Chávez commmittee have a real opportunity for a win-win. By sitting down and striking out and figuring out a way for how this should be done, maybe we can even provide the country with a blueprint for how two groups can get together and strike a compromise” in an issue this heated.
Given what I’ve heard from the Chávez committee, however, they aren’t open to compromise. (Which Mildenberger knows: “They will not even entertain the idea. It’s like trying to bend a big steel I-beam.”)
But frankly, I completely understand the committee’s hardball position—by putting their stake on Interstate, they’ve publically declared their choice, and they want respect for the choice that they made. At this point—at least from the committee’s POV—I get the sense that the debate may be less about whether or not to rename Interstate, than about whether or not Portland will validate the committee’s choice—and symbolically accept the community they represent. (There’s a very specific word for this, isn’t there? I’ve been reaching for it all week… someone help me out!)
Comments
Branding? How is the Nite Hawk Cafe and Lounge linked with Interstate other than by address (which it will keep for more than 5 years, by the way).
That's completely ridiculous.
Potential customer on phone, calling from just about anywhere in the metro area: "Where are you guys located?"
Business: "We're on Interstate"
Customer: "Oh, cool. I know where that is."
------
Potential customer on phone: "Where are you guys located?"
Business: "We're on Chávez Boulevard"
Customer: "Huh?"
The name Interstate would stay on all the signs and in the phone book for 5 years! The guy can say "Interstate" or maybe "it's on Interstate, now called Chavez"
One thing is true: this potential customer won't even be calling.
Could the word you are looking for be, putative?
That hasn't been the case with Rosa Parks—the freeway signs changed entirely a few months after the rename vote, instead of staying concurrent with Portland Boulevard for a few years.
It is interesting that the committe is complaining about what they see as disrespect on the part of local residents. I find is VERY disrespectful that they went to the major and commissioners first, in an obvious bid to solidify support, before even discussing the idea with the neighborhoods affected. But of course this committee has no regard for the residents - they want a street named Chavez and by god they WILL get it! They knew they could never go the legal route, as it starts out with the requirement of gathering 2,500 signatures from local citizens.
It so obviously a done deal - and of course in North Portland where politicans know there is no polictical power to fear (this would never happen on SW Macadam Ave, named after a type of PAVIVG material).
For my part, in the future I will be telling people I live near Rose Parkway and Chevy Blvd. Oh, did I miss-spell that? So sorry!
Geeze,
what needs to happen is for the Mayor and others to get a grip, realize that people that live near the place dont want the name change, and move on.. why not find another street to change the name of? there has to be someone somewhere who WANTS to change the name?
logically you name the street somewhere where people want it... if you do it where people dont want it you are being a bully and a dicktator.
Yeah, Stumptown Fan...a bully and a dictator. Kind of like Eisenhower enforcing desegregation.
Dumbest. Argument. Ever.
heh.. yeah...
dumb arguement... if people dont want it, then obviously they are racists and should have it forced on them anyways... good point Dictator and Daaaaave...
comparing this to Ike is a bit moronic, its not like naming the street after Chavez, Ike or whoever is going to get anyone (whether it be poor or anyone, up to and including the hispanic population of Portland) jack diddly shit.
maybe instead, we should be honest and just say WHY if we are going to rename a street after Chavez, that it HAS to be Interstate?... or do you guys have the nerve for that... any legit reasons why it HAS to be Interstate? or just more obfusication?
Amy made the comment:
"But frankly, I completely understand the committee’s hardball position — by putting their stake on Interstate, they’ve publically declared THEIR CHOICE (my emphasis), and they want respect for the choice that they made."
The key verbage here is "they made their choice." Yes, THEY made their choice, but what gives them the that right without having the common courtesy of asking the very community that will be directly affected, before they finalized that decision?
To me, comes across as very arrogant.
I was actually agreeing with you stf, but well played on the outrage.
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sorry I missed it. Had an emergency to take care of. Grrr. Then again, it sounds like the opposition didn't really get a chance to oppose. Once again, we're getting it shoved down our throats whether we like it or not.