Dallas Nixes 2 Proposals to Name Road for Chavez
AP, November 10, 2008
An effort to rename one of two Dallas streets for Cesar Chavez failed Monday, but the city plans to find another road to name after the late labor and civil rights activist.
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The City Council voted 12-3 to rename the street Riverfront Boulevard, and voted unanimously against renaming Ross Avenue, activists’ second choice.
“I think it’s just disappointing, but we’ll overcome this obstacle and we’ll work and find an appropriate location for Cesar Chavez street or a building,” said Cesar Chavez Task Force leader Alberto Ruiz.
“We’re just determined to have it in downtown Dallas,” he said.
Mayor Tom Leppert, who has said the survey wasn’t binding, said he’ll direct a committee to determine an appropriate street to honor Cesar Chavez within 90 days.
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Hunt [Council member Angela Hunt] also said the history of Ross Avenue, one of Dallas’ oldest streets, should be maintained. She said only one of the 75 Ross Avenue residents she talked to favored changing the name.
She said she wants to find another way to honor Chavez, like possibly naming a downtown’s farmer’s market for him.
[Editor’s Note: Earlier developments in this story can be read here.]
