Oregon Public Broadcasting

Hundreds of people came to Portland City Hall Tuesday night to weigh in on an impending vote to rename a street for Cesar Chavez. April Baer reports.

The proposed Cesar Chavez renaming continues to be one of the city’s great mobilizers.

Nearly 150 people signed up to speak at the hearing, with overflow crowds spilling into an adjacent building.

Among those testifying: both a Patricia Martin and a Patricia Martinez -- they spoke for opposing sides of the issue.

Some of the testimony crossed ethnic lines. Portlander Fernando Sacdalan, a Filipino-American artist and resident of 39th Avenue was one of several renaming opponents who said he admires Chavez very much.

Fernando Sacdalan: “The 1st time I learned about Mr. Cesar Chavez was when we organized the Filipino American National Historical Society, Oregon chapter. I learned that when the Filipino grape workers in California started a strike, the Mexican farmers joined them.”

But  Sacdalan said that while he considers Chavez an important figure in making the American farm industry better....

Fernando Sacdalan “We cannot tell this idea by putting his name on the street sign.”

Many opponents of the renaming questioned repeatedly whether a salute to Chavez needs to involve an existing street.

Doretta Schrock from North Portland, who spoke in favor of the name change, said she found the question subtly evasive.

Doretta Schrock:  “Sure, let’s name something after Cesar Chavez -- not a street, better we should name the farmer’s market or the MAX bridge, or rename Delta Park. At the heart of those suggestions is ‘WE know better than THEY what will best honor Cesar Chavez and the Latino community.’ ”

Commissioners mostly listened quietly, asking technical questions occasionally. But they gave very little indication which way they’ll vote on the renaming.

That vote is scheduled July 8th.