News Jun 11, 2009 at 4:00 am

Opponents Question Petitioners' Citizenship Status

Illustration by Scrappers

Comments

1
Why would anyone want a nasty 'ol tar-filled street named after them, anyways?
Wouldn't it be far greater to have a scholarship or collage in César E. Chávezs' name?
2
Wait what's the controversy? If the signatures are not legal voters the signatures are not valid.
If that were not the case why wouldn't anybody just fill out the names with Sesame Street characters and dead people?
3
It still amazes me that peeps get so upset over changing a street name. If anything, changing a numbered street (39th) to a name street (Chavez) messes with the naming logic. There seems to be hundreds of streets named after dead white guys, one named after a dead black man, and one named after a dead black woman. I'm sure we can make room for a street honoring a dead latino, who was not an illegal immigrant but a US citizen (the haters always forget this part).
4
César E. Chávez disliked illegal immigrants since they broke his Unions picket lines (sometimes leading to violent reactions from Union members). The biggest problem with this entire fiasco is that there has been NO EDUCATION about who César E. Chávez was, what he stood for, what he accomplished or his failures.

CECBC is a political action group who are intent on flexing their political muscle with complete disregard for the city's laws, its residents wishes, and César E. Chávez himself. They are incapable of Honoring anyone.
5
It is not 39th Avenue or Cesar Chavez that I am not in favor. I do not think we should change ANY street name with numbers. The original Portland city planners use numbers because it is practical, universal, and navigational. It is working. If we agree to change any numbered street to a any name, it will be easy for the next group to gather 2,500 signatures and change another numbered street. Putting a name on the street does NOT give us the chance to know who the person is, his life, accomplishments and dreams. Who is Powell (SE Powell Blvd), Foster, Holgate, Morrison, etc. Mr. Cesar Chavez has done a lot to improve the life of our farmers. He deserve a better place to be honored. 39th Avenue have no place to construct a hall that will show his achievements and his dreams for the American laborers. If he is alive, maybe, he will stop this movement, because it is dividing neighbors and friends. I would not want to see the bad comments that I read on the internet. Mr. Chavez name should not be used to denote negative ideas. Let us give his name to a park where we can build a structure that will emulate his good life. My name is Fernando Sacdalan, 71, retired, Manila born, folk artist/sculptor and living on 39th Avenue.
6
I found this interesting. This was a blog posted earlier in the Merc. Marta Guembes is a degenerate racist and another better class of people should honor Chavez in a respectful manner in which all parties agree and COMPROMISE. It is solely the fault of Guembes that this renaming process has turned into such a hateful fiasco:

---Marta Guembes, co-chair of the César E. Chávez Committee, is “insulted” that four commissioners have agreed to rename 4th Avenue instead of Interstate.

“It’s very insulting,” she says. “They have not called me to let me know they’re working on this.” She found out by reading the paper this morning.

“We proposed Interstate, after we went through many streets to decide what would work for us, and the Latino community.” This new idea, she says, is “these white men who have the power and are telling us what is best for us.”

And she’s sticking to her guns—she wants a vote on the street that the committee proposed, Interstate.---

It doesn't surprise me in the least that the signatures are in question. I attended a meeting at Ockley Green in '07 to oppose this nonsense and most of the people who were for the name change needed a translator. Don't sound like legal residents to me. Just say no to Marta and her racist propaganda.

Btw, OregonLive had a blog about this but are too chicken to let people in opposition to comment for very long. This is the same media outlet that doesn't include race when it comes to describing people involved with crimes in the Portland area. Cowards. Thanks Merc for being true to Portland and letting comments without pressure or influence from racist idiots who destroy the democratic process.
7
Why don't people focus their attention on issues of importance like health care reform, government accountability, education, homelessness, foreign relations or protecting the environment? It is ridiculous that so much time and effort is invested in picking out names for asphalt. I thought the reason we named streets was for navigation not to stroke egos or make political statements. Furthermore, the immigration argument is just politically correct racism. Quit picking on the Mexicans! Viva La Rasa Por Vida!
8
This same thing happened in San Antonio (68% 'hispanic') and they shot it down as well. Apparently changing every single scrap of paper and data that has your business address on it, everywhere, is rather expensive.

I love how the article says "First it was expenses...NOW it's the validity of the signatures..." like it can't be both.

Also, I agree that a scholarship would be WAY more useful than an empty, symbolic street name.

Please wait...

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