Council renames 39th Avenue for Cesar E. Chavez

Unanimous vote ends long process, honors growing Latino community

The Portland Tribune, Jul 8, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (55 Reader comments)

It’s now Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard.

Portland’s City Council voted unanimously Wednesday morning to rename 39th Avenue in honor of the Hispanic labor leader.

The vote ended several months of a sometimes rancorous process to rename the street, with supporters saying the city should honor Chavez like other national leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks and opponents claiming the renaming could cost businesses along the road a lot in a struggling economy.

“For my family, we would be honored to live on Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard,” said city Commissioner Nick Fish, the only council member who lives on 39th Avenue. “We live in a city with a growing Latino community, yet there is not one street that honors their heritage. We can change that today.”

The street renaming process began last fall when the Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard Committee submitted plans to change the name of a major street to honor the California labor leader who died in 1993. Chavez and Dolores Huerta founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. His birthday has become a holiday in eight U.S. states.

Just prior to the vote, commissioners and Mayor Sam Adams said their decision was a nod to the region’s large Hispanic population. It also noted that other streets honored major national and local leaders, and adding Chavez was a natural fit.

“I believe that in the future, in 50 years, Portlanders will be better served by having a street named for Cesar Chavez than having a street named 39th,” said city Commissioner Amanda Fritz.

“Portland’s Latino community continues to grow, and this community deserves the recognition that Cesar Chavez Boulevard will bring,” said city Commissioner Dan Saltzman.

Opposition to the proposal

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