then maybe he should sit down with his staff and tell them that.

It's nice that the mayor is rebutting my blog posts these days.

I think I may have even rebutted my own over the weekend.

Incidentally, John, when you're drafting Tom's statements next time, try writing, "might sell web advertising." It's more accurate.

Controversy sell blogs, and blogs sell newspapers! (That and titties.)

I can't wait to see that rebuttal posted here Matt. I don't think "Sorry, Bill" cuts it as a rebuttal or an apology for that matter.

A word on Cesar Chavez, Interstate and more….

I am as eager as anyone to see Portland create a permanent, physical presence honoring Cesar Chavez, but I confess that I am confounded by the flawed process more than I am angered by the racist taunts.

Growing up Mexican-American in California, the son and grandson of farm workers, I learned early on that many Americans do not like foreigners, that many do not like Mexicans in particular and, lastly, that most do not distinguish whether your presence is legal or not.

They don’t like you either way, and they will make that point clear.

But I’m not going to give into the racism diversion in the public argument about renaming Interstate; it comes with the territory.

I want to speak to the flawed process on several points:

First, the Cesar Chavez Committee consists of some of my own local personal heroes, so far as I know, because even at this late stage I’ve never seen a list of committee members.

Marta, Jose, Sonny, Armando –you each have inspired me for more than a decade with your giant hearts for la comunidad, and I share your passion for Cesar…but I did not become aware of your effort until after you had already locked in on Interstate.

If I have left out any names among my local heroes who are serving on the Committee, it is because I do not know who all the members are.

Secondly, the residents of North Portland have felt left out and unheard for many years over a great many issues, and I can understand how the Interstate Max line and the development associated with it would arouse passions that have little to do with race.

Third, the Committee appears to have passed on considering renaming Killingsworth as an option, because the Committee felt it was named after a historical person.

To this point I would say that becoming deceased does not make a person “historical.”

Fourth, you must own the flaws in your process. It is not enough to point to another flawed process and demand the same. There is no moral leverage in that. Please do not compound the flaw by refusing to listen objectively, by refusing to be open to compromise.

You already have the victory, the Mayor and City Council have voted unanimously to honor Cesar Chavez in a significant, permanent way, but you do not own the moral high ground.

Fifth. to my thinking, Killingsworth would be an obvious choice for a broader public discussion, and I believe that you could probably get the 2,500 signatures that the City charter requires from people that live, work or frequently travel on that street itself.

Sixth, Killingsworth is full of low-hanging fruit:

Villa de Clara Vista, Hacienda Salon de Communidad, Aero Vista Apartmentos, Clara Vista Townhomes, Villa de Suenos, Multnomah County’s La Clinica de Buen Salud, the Baltazar Ortiz Community Center, the Villa de Clara Vista Oficina de Administracion, Villa de Suenos, Los Jardines de La Paz, Taqueria Mendoza, Trinity Lutheran Church (with its multiracial signage “Your Child Deserves the Best”), Villas de Mariposas North, Villa de Mariposas South, Portland Metropolitan Workforce Training Center….

Several retail establishments on the street sell Corona Extra openly.

At the corner of NE 42nd and Killingsworth, one finds banners hanging, reading “Color de la Comunidad” and “NE 42nd Business Community,” and several businesses: Ole Frijole Delicious Mexican Food, Taqueria Oaxaca, Novedades Santo Domingo.

Have you discussed the issue with the NE 42nd folks?

At 33rd and Killingsworth is the New Seasons store.

At 30th and Killingsworth are Milagros and Autentica Mexican Food.

The list goes on, the point is that there is much low-hanging fruit here and I wonder if the Committee actually ever contacted residents and businesses on the street. I have no idea, and that points again to the flawed process.

Seventh, TriMet could play an important role here and participate in the discussion. The # 72, Portland’s busiest route, traverses the length of 82nd and much of Killingsworth, and I can see the appeal of putting some paint on those buses and promoting the 82nd Avenue of the Roses/Cesar Chavez Boulevard route.

Eighth, there is only one business on Killingsworth that uses the street name in its business name, indicating the low appeal to the business community.

My last point on this post is one of puzzlement:

Hacienda CDC owns much of the low hanging fruit on Killingsworth, and I both wonder why they haven’t championed renaming that street (why it isn’t already renamed). and why Bertha Ferran of the Hacienda CDC Board of Directors was at the Ockley Green meeting, supporting the renaming of Interstate and chiding local residents not to be so resistant to change.

I’d rather hear her say why she doesn’t support renaming Killingsworth. Sure beats me.

Viva Cesar Chavez

Sean Cruz
October 8, 2007

William Killingsworth was prominent in both the development of the city of Albina, North Portland and the entire city as a whole. He donated the land Jefferson High was built on. His mansion stood just east of the school. Many older NoPo's still remember it.
Here is a web site that gives a brief biography.
http://www.sustainableportland.org/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=66563
Much more is at the Historical Society.
BTW: The Skidmore, Prescott, Raven, Palmer and Stevenson (lumber) families of North Portland all have interesting histories.

You just watch what happens when the committee picks a different street. There will always be an excuse, no matter how good a candidate. "Rename County Road #59872? no way! It's historic!"

WSH wrote: Controversy sell blogs, and blogs sell newspapers! (That and titties.)

Blogs sell titties? I need a fresh, ripe pair of firm breasts (never mind what for!) Where, and how much, do I pay?

Dear Mr. Cruz,

I would like to respond to your comments about renaming Killingsworth to Cesar Chavez.

Since you stated that you grew up Mexican-American, I will mention that I am Anglo and a fan of Cesar Chavez. You don't have to be Latino to be disturbed by the racism displayed at the recent street renaming community meetings and on the local blogs. In your letter you say, "I'm not going to give into the racism diversion". You dismiss the public reaction to the racism as some sort of political tactic. The outcry about the racism surrounding this issue is not something conjured up in a strategy meeting but rather is a heart-felt response voiced by many citizens, politicians and journalists in your community who were ashamed that these attitudes exist. In an interview with OPB News, commissioner Sten says “There's just no doubt, that in any city, but particularly in a white city like Portland, that race is a factor in this argument. I can't recall any issue in my 11 years in office, that we received so many overtly racist calls. Why don't you change a name in Mexico City; why don't you change a name in Woodburn; our neighborhood will become a ghetto with this name change.”

Mr. Cruz, I am not familiar with who you are so I did an Internet search on you. Wow - you are very handsome. I see that you are running for Senate District 23. As a citizen, I would be ashamed to have a senator who minimizes racism like you do. As a voter, I would be very concerned about voting for someone that downplays the hateful feelings and attitudes expressed over this issue. Your attitude and writings on this issue are pathetic.

If there is a "diversion" here, it is your suggestion to rename Killingsworth. It is easy for you to throw out this suggestion and dismiss the research and hard work done by the committee and tell them to start all over. Have you done your homework on renaming Killingsworth? Have you checked into whether there is community support for your idea? Killingsworth is already named in honor of someone. It has historical significance. William M. Killingsworth was a state legislator. Killingsworth Street was dedicated and named for him in 1882. Interstate, however, is not even a name; it is a description and a misleading one at that, since it is no longer the "Interstate" highway.

Dictionary definition: Interstate
noun
1. one of the system of highways linking major cities in the 48 contiguous states of the United States

Regarding your comments about “low-hanging fruit”, you feel that the renaming committee should pick a street that is easy to rename. That implies that the committee can’t succeed at something challenging, that they should just pick some little street that nobody cares about. It’s not about easy, it's about pride, respect and honor. Cesar Chavez is a hero! We are talking about a brave man, a leader; he deserves the BEST, not the EASIEST. It seems to me that the committee didn't pick Interstate because it would be easy to rename, I imagine that the street was carefully chosen because it would be the best way for all Portlanders to honor Cesar E. Chavez.

Compromise. What does it mean to compromise? Think about it – do the people who want the committee to "compromise", want a bigger and better street renamed? Why do we jump to the conclusion that compromise is such a great thing? Compromise means not renaming Interstate. What is wrong with renaming Interstate? It’s the perfect street to rename. It’s the right street to rename.

As far your idea that Killingsworth is appropriate because it is in a Latino community, honoring Cesar Chavez is not about the Latino community. It is for the whole city. If a committee wanted to rename a street for a Polish hero, would you suggest that they restrict the renaming suggestions to streets in Polish communities? Seems a bit racist to me. Also, there are many types of people living along and near Killingsworth, not just Latinos. Besides generally insulting your community, you also added, "Several retail establishments on the street sell Corona Extra openly". What do you mean by that? What are you implying?

Do you know that any group has the right to approach the council to rename a street and that people have the freedom to be for or against it? Any group that wants a statue of Cesar Chavez, or a building or street named after their favorite hero is welcome to begin the hard work to make their dream come true – BUT – they are not welcome to attempt to subvert all the hard work that the Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard Committee has put into this project.

Your closing comment regarding Ms. Ferran: "why Bertha Ferran ……. was at the Ockley Green meeting, …. chiding local residents not to be so resistant to change". Many people looking at this issue have come away with the same feeling as Ms. Ferran, which is that it seems to come down to resistance to change and that is puzzling because it is a positive change. In the end, it is just a change, a good change but nevertheless a change and the resistance seems out of proportion to the actual change that would take place if the street was renamed. Your comments towards Ferran seemed a little bit personal to me, so I googled this and I noticed on your blog that you have a personal issue with Ferran. Don’t let your personal issue get in the way of you supporting a great cause.

You say that Marta, Jose, Sonny and Armando are among your local heroes, but then you minimize what they are trying to do and you criticize their process. Should I also be offended that the committee did not consult with me before choosing a street?

So, there are my thoughts and my advice, Mr. Cruz. When the election comes up, will we have a chance to vote for a leader who stood up for what is the right thing to do, or someone who waffled and tried to take the easy route and please everybody, someone who was fearful and cowered from the bigots and the Not In My Backyard people. Mr. Cruz you will not get my vote.

Richard Nelson