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Friday, June 12, 2009

News Chávez Controversy Continues

Posted by Rachael the Unpaid News Intern on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 11:11 AM

The Save 39th Avenue group just won’t quit. After alleging last week that the city did not collect enough signatures in its recent effort to rename 39th Avenue as César Chávez Boulevard, group leader Eric Fruits has dug up another alleged reason why 39th Avenue can’t legally be renamed: the street actually ends in Milwaukie, which puts it out of the city’s grasp.

According to city code, a street must start and end entirely within Portland city limits to be a candidate for renaming. It is the responsibility of the applicant, the César E. Chávez committee, to prove the street starts and ends in Portland.

Marta Guembes, of the Chávez committee says different: “Our responsibility was to do the application. We brought the petition, and we’ve gone through the process.”

Back in 1975, the city of Milwaukie changed Kimbrough Road to 39th Avenue to be consistent with the metropolitan grid, says Fruits’ memo, thus demonstrating 39th Avenue does in fact continue into Milwaukie. Fruits says this fact, along with a map from Portland’s database Portlandmaps.com, means 39th Avenue is not a legitimate candidate for renaming.

The city auditor’s office is yet to return a call for comment. Fruits also sent an email this morning to all the city commissioners and Mayor Sam Adams—they are all yet to respond to a follow-up email seeking comment.

b4b4/1244829612-rename_map.jpg

39th Avenue crosses city borders.

-Rachael Marcus

 

Comments (13) RSS

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1
I think they may find that technically, there are two separate streets here, both called "39th", but one in Portland and one in Milwaukie. It is not a continuous stretch of pavement running from Portland to Milwaukie -- According to their own posted map, it is interrupted by a park, a railroad, and private property.
Posted by Bob R. on June 12, 2009 at 11:22 AM · Report
2
Such a complete and total waste of everyone's time.

I think we could agree nobody would object to putting up a statue of Chavez. Put it next to the huge rose, right on the waterfront, even have Chavez reaching down to pick it up. Or you could put the huge statue below the Made in Oregon sign, looking up at Oregon wistfully! Hell, make an island and put it in the middle of the Willamette!

Why do we expend such energies on such trite projects in this city?
Posted by NIG GER on June 12, 2009 at 11:23 AM · Report
3
> Why do we expend such energies on such trite projects in this city?

Because tackling the hard problems - business flight, pension shortfalls, massive debt, bureaucratic bloat, crippling taxes, etc, etc, etc - would be.. well, hard. Pretending Portlanders are racist and that renaming a street will have some kind of ameliorating effect - that's easy. Or so they thought.
Posted by mr. voluptuous on June 12, 2009 at 12:01 PM · Report
4
Renaming 39th is about honoring a labor rights activist. The fact that Chavez is also Latino shows that many people in Portland are not opposed to cultural inclusively.

This is not a pointless or trite project. Naming a street after a labor rights activist reminds everyone of the civil liberties we have accomplish and how many we still lack. Naming a street after a Latino puts Chavez on equal footing with other human rights leaders and philanthropist like Lincoln, MLK and Naito.

This project is such an easy and wonderful way to keep Portlanders progressive. So why are we, as a city, having so much trouble with it?
Posted by Danj on June 12, 2009 at 6:12 PM · Report
5
For a more detailed arguement on the importance of renaming streets check out

http://www.cesarechavezboulevard.com/news.…
Posted by Danj on June 12, 2009 at 6:36 PM · Report
6
How about renaming a park, or naming the new bridge...? Renaming streets costs businesses as well as the city at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch of the economy.
Posted by dpbailey on June 12, 2009 at 10:23 PM · Report
7
Exactly. Obviously renaming streets isn't as easy or as important as the site claims. Renaming a street seems cliche in this day and age.

You want to honor Chavez, and make a sacrifice that doesn't harm so many businesses THAT SUPPORT CHAVEZ, at the same time: Use my suggestions above, hell, kick Starbucks out of pioneer square and put a large statue of Chavez. Put it in a visible, central location, not some fringe street that seems like an afterthought, and that 99% of tourists to Portland WILL NEVER SEE.

Posted by NIG GER on June 13, 2009 at 11:47 AM · Report
8
http://www.cesarechavezboulevard.com/news.…;
Read the article. It explains IN DETAIL why a park or bridge or statue will not do.
Posted by Danj on June 13, 2009 at 4:23 PM · Report
9
No. Got to:
"Streets play a key role in defining the fabric of everyday reality, both for groups trying to hold on to their identity and version of the past, and for those with a new reality demanding to be heard. "

Without ANY qualifications for such a statement, I simply will not bother. In fact, statements like these explain EXACTLY why the street should not be renamed.
Posted by NIG GER on June 13, 2009 at 8:32 PM · Report
10
danj, if you think street rename is 'easy and wonderful' you werent here in 2007 or werent paying attention.

2007- attempt to rename n interstate ave for chavez > four month city wide crisis > husbands vs wifes/congregations vs pastors/neighbor vs neighbor/outbrakes of anonymus racism/unjust charges of racism by chabez committee.Google up coverage by mercury/willy week/oregonian/sentinel/whoever. talk to Brian rohter at new seasons/bill mildenburger at nite hawk restaurant/anybody in n Portland neighborhood assns. talk to fmr mayor potter.

N interstate was awful mess & 39 ave will be more of same.
Posted by billy on June 15, 2009 at 9:02 AM · Report
11
Billy you talking crazy. Just because people made a mess of things doesn't mean they had to. All the problems you listed are because people didn't want the project to happen. What your saying is, We can't do it because some people don't want to and will react badly. Any time you change something there are people who will be angry. People need to stand up for what they know is right, even if it is hard. Otherwise we just let the bullies make the rules.
Posted by Danj on June 15, 2009 at 9:25 AM · Report
12
Danj = poor hopeless troll.
Posted by NIG GER on June 15, 2009 at 11:49 AM · Report
13
From the City's own research, 87.7% of Portland oppose renaming 39th Ave compared to 11.5% support.

This is an overwhelming negative response and should be listened to.

http://portlandonline.com/index.cfm?c=49742&a=238592
Posted by hermit on June 16, 2009 at 5:40 PM · Report

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