About mid-day, Portland City Council, in all their glorious political-correctness, voted unanimously voted in favor of the rename of East 39th to Cesar Chavez.
Despite overwhelming opposition, they apparently felt that going against the wishes of Portland residents (and specifically those who live or have businesses on 39th) was better for the “public good” than rejecting the proposal and working towards finding a solution that might have accomodated both sides of the issue.
I can’t begin to say how disappointed and frustrated I am.
And, I feel sad for both Cesar Chavez, to have posthumously landed in such a heated battle (one that I doubt he would have himself supported; I suspect he’d have worked WITH opposition rather than against them), and and am worried about the potential backlash that might result.
Oh, and I feel sorry for the commitee that fought for the rename, to have finally won (after years of failed attempts), but have gotten the slimmest of pickings. Nothing says honor quite like a street that contains sections of gravel and potholes. Like the one in front of my house. Way to go!