Interstate rename efforts update
As you know, there is an effort going on to rename Interstate Blvd to Cesar Chavez Blvd. We have posted about the effort here a couple of times and I wanted to give you an update:
Both the Overlook and Arbor Lodge neighborhood associations resoundingly stated their opposition to the rename. In Arbor Lodge, they even had a professional facilitator who according to reports caused more problems than helped.
The Cesar Chavez Rename committee has chosen to not follow the Cities guidelines for naming streets. They instead feel they should be allowed to push the rename through just like Rosa Parks Way went through.
The Cesar Chavez Rename committee is having a fund raiser for their efforts and get this, it is in Milwaukie. On that note, the leader of the pack lives in Tigard.
Both sides have petitions on ipetition. The FOR petition currently has 192 signatures while the AGAINST has 371.
There are two public meetings coming up and the city has posted signs up and down Interstate to inform the neighborhood. The meetings are at Ockley Green Middle School @ 6031 N Montana on Oct 3 and Oct. 9 from 6:30-8pm. No one has a right to whine that they didn’t hear about the rename effort now. Go out and make yourself heard.
Lastly, if you are for or against the effort, email the city council and the mayor. Contact info after the jump.
Mayor Tom Potter
mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Erik Sten Commissioner Randy Leonard
erik@ci.portland.or.us rleonard@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Dan Saltzman Commissioner Sam Adams
dan@ci.portland.or.us commissionersam@ci.portland.or.us
OR call them:
Mayor Tom Potter
Phone: 503-823-4120
Fax: 503-823-3588
Mayor’s 24-Hour Opinion Line: 503-823-4127
Commissioner Sam Adams Commissioner Erik Sten
Phone: 503-823-3008 Phone: 503-823-3589
Fax: 503-823-3017 Fax: 503-823-3596
Commissioner Randy Leonard Commissioner Dan Saltzman
Phone: 503-823-4682 Phone: 503-823-3589
Fax: 503-823-4019 Fax: 503-823-3596
So if they can do fundraising in Milwaukie, and the #1 person FOR the name change lives in Tigard, can all my Montavilla neighbors and I come down and be against it? Cuz y’know, they don’t want to rename anything here, and since I’m not running a meth lab in crime-ridden East Portland, I gotta lotta free time…
Aren’t the meetings on the 3rd and the 9th? Or is my calendar off?
Please come down and join in my efforts to rename Sandy Blvd to “Bear Bryant Drive”.
my bad Amy. I will correct.
Issues of process and minor costs to businesses aside, I’ve got to say I’ve been floored by what can only be described as a surge of white nativism in North Portland.
In the community (not so much on blogs like this, so don’t take this the wrong way, Dieselboi) I’ve heard so many inappropriate remarks about “Mexicans” (never mind that Cesar Chavez was a native born US citizen) and blacks (re. the appropriateness of Rosa Parks Way), that I can only conclude that issues with process, “appropriateness” of the proposed name, and businesses replacing stationary are just smoke screens for deeper, darker motivations.
I live in Overlook, and I talk to whites, blacks, Mexican-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, etc. every day at my children’s school. I can tell you that longtime Mexican-American residents of the neighborhood are feeling scared and unwelcome.
Their feelings are justified when whites are quoted in the paper saying things like “Some minorities do what they want to do, and they should go somewhere else.”
Just something to keep in mind. Mexican-Americans can be forgiven for fearing a bit of mob mentality in all of this. One person I talked to put it this way (paraphrasing): I hope they don’t change the name, because you don’t know how ugly things can get for us. They don’t want us here.
I’ve learned to pick my battles. This is one I’m not picking, so don’t jump all over me. I’m just saying, if you’re picking this battle, please be aware of the dark undertones that are being stirred up.
Steve,
Well said. There is a lot of passion around this issue from the old-timers who feel the committee is taking something away from them to the committee who wants to honor a hero.
I just hope the community comes out to give their voice. I truly could see a huge turnout for those meetings. Larger than anyone ever expected.
Thanks for the comments.
Interstste has a great deal of History with it.Why do they need to RE-name a street.If the person is so important why not give them a new street.That way it will have it’s own history like Interstste does today,and if the politico’s don’t want to follow the rules,then lets not waste time on street names and get rid of them instead. Ron Downtown/S.W.PDX.
In case you didn’t see it, Tom Potter sent out an e-mail to the community this morning. Here’s what it said:
Dear Portlanders:
C√©sar E. Ch√°vez’s work was rooted in his belief in peaceful and nonviolent action. Unfortunately, this same legacy of respect was not present last week during a neighborhood discussion of a street commemoration in his name.
As I’ve said before many times: good people can disagree. And many do in this case. The exchange of opinions is healthy for a community to better
understand all sides of an issue. But when an opinion is delivered with negativity and disrespect, it is not healthy, it is destructive.
And this should be unacceptable to every Portlander.
Will Rogers once said “you have to go out on a limb sometimes, because that is where the fruit is.” I believe this is an opportunity for Portlanders on all sides to go out on that limb together. Yes, we might still come out disagreeing. But what we might achieve is a more authentic understanding of all the different people, places and things that truly make this City who and what it is today.
I urge all Portlanders to learn more about this project and what it means the Latino community. Take the time to listen – and I mean really listen – before making a fearful reaction to the idea of change. More importantly in this debate, let’s respect one another. For when we do this, we are really saying to one another “I respect your right to be here.”
The Office of Transportation and Office of Neighborhood Involvement have planned two opportunities to learn about this proposal. I urge everyone interested to attend and respectfully share your opinions with the City on
this matter.
Community meetings on renaming Interstate Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard:
Wednesday, October 3rd
Ockley Green Middle School
6031 N Montana Ave
Portland, OR 97217
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 9th
Ockley Green Middle School
6031 N Montana Ave
Portland, OR 97217
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
If you are unable to attend these meetings, please call my comment line at (503) 823-4127 or email me at mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.us with your opinion.
Sincerely,
Tom Potter
Mayor
I would like to know why the wishes of the people are not granted. Max was veoted down in an election. What is on Insterstate ave in case you haved notice Max. Section 17.93 requires 75 percent of the property ovners a long a street or 2500 members of the general public are required to sign petitions before a street can be changed. If these requirements are not meet, will the name still be changed and who made the mayor GOD to change it the majority of the peoples wishes are not granted. Take a look at max