César E Chávez Boulevard (Portland, Oregon)

César E Chávez Boulevard is a street in Portland, Oregon, United States. Until 2009, it was known as Northeast and Southeast 39th Avenue.[1]

César E Chávez Boulevard
Former name(s)39th Avenue
LocationPortland, Oregon

History

Naming controversy

In July 2009, the Portland city council approved renaming all segments of 39th Avenue within the city limits as César E. Chávez Blvd in honor of Latino labor activist Cesar E. Chavez.[1][2] Originally planned for December 2009, the first street sign with the new name was installed on January 29, 2010.[3][4] The street bore signage of both the new name and the former name for five years.[1][2]

The renaming process was very acrimonious. There had been a false start in earlier years with a prior street selection.[5][6] Other streets nominated for selection included Fourth Avenue and Interstate Avenue.[7] Opponents of any initiative to rename a street for the labor leader cited his overall lack of significant links to the Portland area. Supporters of the renaming initiative countered that Cesar Chavez had a presence in Oregon, with Colegio Cesar Chavez as one example.[8] NE and SE 39th Avenues were finally selected, being an important through-way, but carrying an existing name which lacked toponymic significance to the history of Portland. (The number 39 was sequential and not historically significant.) Hispanics are the largest growing ethnic group in Portland, Oregon, and yet prior to the naming of César E. Chávez Boulevard no public location had been named after a Hispanic.[9]

Transit

The street is served by TriMet lines 75 and 66.[10] The discontinued bus line 74 no longer serves the street.

See also

References
  1. Haberman, Margaret (July 8, 2009). "Challenge may follow renaming of Portland street for Cesar Chavez". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  2. "Ordinance No. 183000". City of Portland, Oregon. July 8, 2009. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  3. Slovic, Beth (November 10, 2009). "City to Put Up Cesar Chavez Signs Next Month". Archived from the original on 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  4. Mayer, James (January 29, 2010). "First Chavez Boulevard sign goes up in Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  5. Murphy, Todd (November 15, 2007). "Portland City Council votes to rename Fourth Avenue for César Chávez". The Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  6. "39th Ave. now Cesar E. Chavez Blvd". Portland Business Journal. July 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  7. Frazier, Joseph B. (July 8, 2009). "Portland, Ore., Street Renamed Cesar Chavez Blvd". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  8. Baer, April (July 1, 2009). "What Is Cesar Chavez's Connection To Oregon?". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  9. Frazier, Joseph B. (July 8, 2009). "Welcome to Portland's Cesar Chavez Boulevard". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 12, 2009 – via KOMO News.com.
  10. "TriMet: Bus Line 75-Cesar Chavez/Lombard Map and Schedule". Retrieved 2014-10-27.
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