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Cesar Chavez Blvd.? Dallas Does U-Turn on Renaming

Poll for new street name ditched after Hispanic hero wins

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 13, 2008 7:03 AM CST

(Newser) – The Latino community in Dallas is fuming after the city’s about-face on a street name, the Wall Street Journal reports. Officials held a poll to find a new name for the spruced-up Industrial Boulevard, only to declare the results non-binding when the winner by a long shot was Cesar Chavez Boulevard, in honor of the labor activist.

The move angered the city's Hispanic leaders, and the flap worsened when officials proposed renaming Ross Street after Chavez instead—only to meet protests from residents who wanted to keep the street’s original name, which honors two Dallas brothers who fought for the Confederacy. The city council has voted to rename Industrial Boulevard "Riverfront Boulevard" and is still searching for an acceptable street or landmark with which to honor Chavez.

Traffic travels north on Dallas' Industrial Blvd.,  Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. In a city survey regarding what to call Industrial Boulevard, Cesar Chavez was the overwhelming favorite.
Traffic travels north on Dallas' Industrial Blvd., Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. In a city survey regarding what to call Industrial Boulevard, Cesar Chavez was the overwhelming favorite.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
A sign along Ross Ave. that reads Saveross.com hangs on a fence for passersby to see,  Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, in Dallas, Texas.
A sign along Ross Ave. that reads "Saveross.com" hangs on a fence for passersby to see, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, in Dallas, Texas.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta looks at a mural of Cesar Chavez during a dedication of the Cesar Chavez Monument on the San Jose State University campus in San Jose, Calif.
United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta looks at a mural of Cesar Chavez during a dedication of the Cesar Chavez Monument on the San Jose State University campus in San Jose, Calif.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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Our community was disrespected. When the Anglo community wants to rename something, nobody gets input from us; when it's our turn, we have to get the Anglo community to let us first. - Brenda Reyes, a political consultant who helped organize the Chavez campaign

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Zebraone
Dec 13, 2008 5:50 AM CST
Honor his name?~~ I urinate on his grave!

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