ASPSU favors switch to Chavez from Interstate

The debate over the possible name of Interstate Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard may finally end this week, after a month of friction between supporters and street residents.

With a referendum expected to occur Thursday, city council members will vote either to rename Interstate Avenue or find another street to rename in honor of Chavez, a well-known Latino civil rights figure.

The dispute has sparked controversy, drawing support for both sides of the issue from numerous individuals, groups, and organizations, including the Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU).

“We’re in support of diversity on campus, in the city, in the state. We are an organization that supports all communities,” said ASPSU President Rudy Soto. “We think this is a worthy proposition.”

Soto said the debate to rename Interstate Avenue is “really important.”

“This debate is not limited within itself–think it stems from underlying emotions,” Soto said. “With conflict comes opportunity. If this community can do this, it will show young people that they can overcome skepticism and political barriers, that they can do more.”

Soto said he has been in close contact with leaders of the committee and leaders of the Latino Network over the past month, and attended a meeting in City Commissioner Erik Sten’s office with leaders of under-represented communities in the city.

“What really affected me is hearing firsthand about how much [the Latino community] feel that people have used this to voice their distaste for illegal immigration,” Soto said.

Sten was the last to weigh in on the issue, though Soto said that the commissioner “has voiced that he is likely to vote for the name change.”

Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Commissioner Dan Saltzman are also in support of changing the street name, though Commissioners Randy Leonard and Sam Adams are against it.

Adams’ stance caught many people off-guard, Soto said, as the mayoral-hopeful ordinarily supports under-represented communities in Portland. “It’s obvious that Adams is making what he sees as being in his best interest politically,” Soto said. “Members of the Latino community see this as a lack of integrity on his part.”

If city council members vote down the proposed renaming of Interstate Avenue, the effort to honor Chávez will not be dropped.

The council has made a commitment to name a major street after Chávez, and council members are already pursuing alternative streets. Leonard is pushing for Southwest Broadway Street, and proposed closing down the street for Chávez’s birthday on Mar. 31 and holding a celebration for Latino culture.