Just a note to those who want to be able to speak at the next meeting. I don't know what sort of method they were using to determine who spoke tonight. The room was already packed by the time I got there, at 6:30pm, and I somehow got to speak.

Just to be clear - anyone who filled out a comment card will have their comments logged into the public record.

This outreach meeting was to what Portlanders had to say (NoPo and the rest of the City) - and is a;sp mpt required by City code (only 1 public hearing in addition to the Planning Commission).

Let's at least give this group credit. Naito and Rosa Parks gave the community this opportunity to have their voices heard.

Just saying.

Rather, neither Naito or Rosa Parks gave the community that opportunity...

You are right, K. This committee has given the community more opportunity for input than is required.

The "rules" actually allow for LESS public involvement than the committee has carried out.

The rules would send the application straight to a little group of historians and planning commissioners who are appointed by the City Council. The property owners and NAs would only have to be notified in writing and given 2 minutes testimony at a hearing.

Talk about a done deal. Talk about not being heard.

City Council passed a resolution to "Initiate a period of public comment on the proposal to change the name of Interstate Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard" It wasn't to change the name. It wasn't to make a motion to change the name. It wasn't to make a motion to schedule a meeting to consider the change.

The resolution was to initiate the public comment period--which is what everyone is screaming they wanted in the first place.

So what gives?

Let's all admit this is not about following process.

I would like to recommend that the Committee submit the formal application and fee and begin the official process.

I also want to let the Committee know I am offering my services (pro bono) in the effort if they wish to contact me. I will help them complete all the required paperwork, forms, notices, and coordination with the City and neighborhood associations--so that the community can lay this "procedure" issue to rest and have a real discussion.

The council decision may not have been a vote on the rename itself, but that's clearly the signal that was sent out--I was sitting in the room, and it was obvious that not a single commissioner was going to vote no on the eventual name change. By that point, the five-week period seemed like a mere formality.

That said, maybe individual neighbors' objections aren't really about process, and maybe their collective objections aren't really about process, but the fact that the process wasn't followed has given name-change opponents whatever cover they need, ensuring that the conversation that needs to happen here will never actually happen.

Had the process been followed, the discussion would be about why people do or don't want the name change--instead, that conversation is easily and understandably buried under "but they didn't follow the process!" That was a massive political blunder on the part of the mayor's office, built on the precedent set by Saltzman with Rosa Parks.

For the record, Chavez is a personal and professional hero of mine--I'd support renaming the whole damn city after him. In fact, I'll get the petitions going right now. But it's impossible to ignore just how much this whole thing has been screwed by blind enthusiasm from Potter's office.

Then again, maybe no amount of public "process" can head-off people's wild passion over the pettiest of issues--I mean no disrespect, but can anyone think of a less important issue facing the city right now than the name of a street?

(Also for the record, I haven't been to any of the neighborhood meetings, and am only responding based on others' reporting from those meetings. Why haven't I gone? See the paragraph just above this one.)

To expand on Scott's accurate observation of the council's intention, I do think it is correct to conclude that the council is committed to naming a street in Portland after Cesar Chavez.

"Then again, maybe no amount of public "process" can head-off people's wild passion over the pettiest of issues--I mean no disrespect, but can anyone think of a less important issue facing the city right now than the name of a street?"

Exactly..I've been to many sparsely-attended community meetings on the rezoning process for Interstate, development proposals, crime, the police precinct etc. Apparently there are more people concerned about the name of the street then the actual issues surrounding the future of Interstate.

I live one house off of Interstate and frankly I could care less if the name is changed. I understand the feelings of longtime residents who want to preserve the historical moniker of the strip. Still it amazes me of the Jihad-like intensity of both sides over a street that consists of mostly no-tell motels and dive bars. What's the attraction of this specific street as opposed to a park or school for the renaming committee?

There is tons of streets named for historical figures in Portland and I guarantee that the average Portlander doesn't have any clue who 95% of them are. I'm willing to bet the average Portland resident still doesn't have a clue who Bill Naito was. You really think renaming a street after Chavez is going to really make any difference at all for a low-income child in North Portland?

And yes, eventually Interstate is going to be a bunch of "affordable" condos that I can't afford. Rename it what you want, just don't ignore the real issues that really impact our neighborhood.

Does anyone else appreciate the delicious irony of going over the heads of the working class straight to the government to force an action down their throats to celebrate a man who was best known for non-violent non-cooperation?

In the interest of consolidating several live threads about this issue, please consider taking your comments to the current one.

"To expand on Scott's accurate observation of the council's intention, I do think it is correct to conclude that the council is committed to naming a street in Portland after Cesar Chavez."
Randy,
I would assume that you, as a good representative of the people would recognize that since a fairly sizable group along Interstate does NOT want a name change that it may be wise to choose a street elsewhere for Chavez?
maybe the new busmall when it is done? or better yet, ask the neighborhood committees of Portland if any of them would like the name change opportunity?

Stumptown Fan-
Read my previous comment very carefully.

There is a hint within. :)

Commissioner Leonard,
Thanks for that hint. I hope the rest of the council is also open to not getting boxed into one and one choice only.

I read the minutes for the Rosa Parks rename vote and you were the only one there who tried to stand for the people in the N and NE. You actually took the time to consider how people feel and tried to bring it up. You talked about your ties to our part of town and I want you to know how much I appreciated you at least trying to represent us.

Just for the sake of reality, let's note that we have NO assurance that "Randy Leonard" is Randy Leonard.

"Randy Leonard," if you're THAT Randy Leonard, you have my number. Let's chat. Won't take five minutes of your time. It's time for somebody to step up and show some leadership in this mess. Might as well be you.

If I were a city commissioner, I'd tell the North Portland neighbors they weren't going to get away with a temper tantrum to excuse their ignorance, and I'd say, "stick it." "If you don't like it, don't re-elect me."

Of course, I'm not a city commissioner, but those North Portland neighbors are being pandered to in a way I cannot believe.

Hey Will, you're right. I guess I just hope it really is RL. He, the real RL, did try to talk about the effect the change would have on people in this area, but Saltzman smacked him down.

Sam Adams said something along the lines of ..we waived the code for Naito Parkway and that was only right...and then went on to add his "yea" to the final vote on erasing Portland Blvd.

Oh Matt and SCG, you two crack me up.

I'm quite sure that's the real Randy Leonard. At the least, it's the person who's been posting as the real Randy Leonard since Blogtown was born—and Randy's never claimed to have a Blogtown impersonator.

OK -- if that's Randy, my phone should be ringing in the next 24 hours or so. Maybe I'll let you know how that turns out.

Amy, I owe you lunch for the revelation that there's City Code governing street name changes. Any place in town. My treat.

SCG, you seem to have a lot invested in this proposal. Can you explain why? I can explain why it's an issue for me: I think the people who live and work and own property in a community should be stakeholders in its future. That's not happening here, and I have a problem with that.

Matt... oh, Matt. What can I say that I haven't said before?

In reply to Matt Davis #15, I wonder if you felt that SW Portland was being overly-pampered a few years back when they had a "temper tantrum" over density and infill housing (the same level of density now zoned on much of the eastside). The City caved on that issue; of course that happened on the "good" side of town - the Westside.

SCG and Matt are apparently man and wife so draw your own conclusions.

And apparently you're Amy Ruiz's next-door neighbor, Tracy?

What's the point, here?

The point, Matt, is outlined in #19 above.

I'm sitting by my phone....

I would only say, Matt, that I have never agreed to give anyone veto authority over any vote or decision I am obligated to make on behalf of our entire city. When I vote at council, I am responsible and accountable for that vote. I will never "cop out" to avoid accountability for any of my votes with an excuse like "I was just following the committee's recommendation."

Having said that, some of the folks who are arguing against the name change are not doing themselves a service with some of their rhetoric. My advice to them is to be respectful, check the name calling at the door and have faith that the council is going to be more deliberative about this issue than what has been apparent so far.

While many may disagree on what the right thing is in this instance, I will tell you that I am committed to honoring Cesar Chavez by naming a street in Portland after him. Why anyone presumed I or my colleagues on the council may not have an opinion as to what street is the most appropriate to name after Cesar Chavez is somewhat mystifying to me.

I am sure those on both sides are going to feel heard and understood as events unfold in the next few days.

Please be kind to each other. Naming a street after Cesar Chavez -a great American hero- should be cause for celebration in Portland, not division.

Randy --

Please contact me. Check your in-box. There's a chance that we can sort this out without open warfare. It's not necessary. Call me. Thanks.

Please be kind to each other. Naming a street after Cesar Chavez -a great American hero- should be cause for celebration in Portland, not division.

Randy, I tend to agree, its disapointing that everyone takes this as a chance to throw mud. Portland should have a street named after Cesar Chavez, and it should be a choice that the people who use the street are happy with.
thanks
Patrick

Will--what do I have invested in this proposal?

I think it is an tremendous honor that the committee would choose our community. It is a big deal to change a street name--not simply a symbolic gesture. If it were no big thing, it would not mean anything to the community.

I've been listening to my neighbors in north portland go on and on for years about how progressive and enlightened we are, how inclusive we are, etc. It doesn't end with the bumper sticker and NPR. It means you make tough choices to do the right thing, even if you're scared. Which I know most of us are.

This committee has given us all this great opportunity to be what we say we are, to honor Chavez in this way. All we have to do is say yes.

I'm glad SCG realizes that it is a big thing - huge, I would say - to change a street name, especially one that also provides such a strong sense of community. The difference of opinion revolves around what is an acceptable trade-off between giving up a strong neighborhood identifier and honoring Chavez. The reality is that Chavez is just not that important to the average North Portland resident, so the question we have is, given how disruptive a name change would be, and the fact that we have already gone through a recent name change, why come back to the same area and cause more disruption when it really doesn't matter what part of the city ends up with Chavez Blvd? Since all of Portland seems to feel they are progressive and enlioghtened, why not give that great opportunity to another neighborhood?

good question Gerry.
my bet is this is the part where they call you a racist.

"Chavez is just not that important to the average North Portland resident...it really doesn't matter what part of the city ends up with Chavez Blvd"

Actually, STF and Gerry, I don't even need to call you anything.

Hi Matt,
Yes I am Amy's neighbor. She is a terrific new addition to our block, and I'm proud to share zip codes with her. Amy actually mentioned in one of her pieces that I am her neighbor. I met you and your wife at a party at her house and you are both lovely people as well.

I post under my real name as do you, your wife has chosen to remain anonomous at least in this forum and people were wondering who she was and where she is coming from on this particular issue.

Both you have been asked what your respective stakes are in this issue, the point being that people occassionaly want to know what people's agendas are in these blogs. The fact that you are married to SCG is just information that you yourself posted on another thread.