Thread: Divided City Council Approves Changing Durango to 'Cesar Cha

Sharply Divided City Council Approves Changing Durango to 'Cesar Chavez Boulevard'
Change should start being seen within weeks


A sharply divided San Antonio City Council voted 7-4 this afternoon to approve the renaming of Durango Street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard in honor of the late labor and civil rights leader, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Some members of council expressed concerns that a vote to honor Chavez should be so 'divisive.' All of the Latino council members voted in favor of the name change, with the two Anglos, one African American, and one Asian American on council voting no.

"I don't want in any way try to make it seem like it was an ethnic issue," said Councilman Philip Cortez, who pushed for the name change. "This was an issue to honor an American hero. If my council colleagues didn't agree with what we did today, I respect their decision, but at the same time, this was long overdue."

Chavez points out that two dozen major American cities have changed a street name to honor Chavez, who died in 1993, incluidng all other major cities in Texas.

The four council members who voted against the name change all expressed their respect for Chavez, but expressed concerns about the $100,00 cost of the name change, about the impact it will have on the hundreds of homes and businesses along Durango Street, and about whether the proper procedures were followed to change the name of a street.

This is Cortez' final city council meeting. He leaves council at the end of the month due to term limits.

Cortez says the name change will begin to appear soon, as officials work to obtain new street signs, especially the large green highway signs which will proclaim 'Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard' on Interstate 37 near the Alamodome, and on Interstate 35 near UTSA.

"Six to eight weeks we should start seeing some changes," Cortez said.

Several dozen people spoke, with public opinion running about fifty fifty on the issue. Concerns were raised about everything from whether in car GPS systems would be able to handle the new street name, to whether a park, new street, or a school should be named for Chavez instead.


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"I don't want in any way try to make it seem like it was an ethnic issue," said Councilman Philip Cortez, who pushed for the name change. "This was an issue to honor an American hero. If my council colleagues didn't agree with what we did today, I respect their decision, but at the same time, this was long overdue."

Oh really? Hmmmm let's see....

All of the Latino council members voted in favor of the name change, with the two Anglos, one African American, and one Asian American on council voting no.

Looks pretty much like an ethnic issue to me.

I'm quickly becoming convinced that Hispanic politicans don't have the interest of their fellow Americans at heart, unless of course they are Hispanic too.

"For the Race, everything, outside the Race, nothing"

Why didn't they just wait until a new subdivision was built and name one of the roads?

Some members of council expressed concerns that a vote to honor Chavez should be so 'divisive.' All of the Latino council members voted in favor of the name change, with the two Anglos, one African American, and one Asian American on council voting no.

"I don't want in any way try to make it seem like it was an ethnic issue," said Councilman Philip Cortez, who pushed for the name change. "This was an issue to honor an American hero. If my council colleagues didn't agree with what we did today, I respect their decision, but at the same time, this was long overdue."

Looks to me like it was an "ethnic issue !" Anyway, pretty good week for Chavez. Gets a Navy ship and street named after him.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Some members of council expressed concerns that a vote to honor Chavez should be so 'divisive.' All of the Latino council members voted in favor of the name change, with the two Anglos, one African American, and one Asian American on council voting no.

"I don't want in any way try to make it seem like it was an ethnic issue," said Councilman Philip Cortez, who pushed for the name change. "This was an issue to honor an American hero. If my council colleagues didn't agree with what we did today, I respect their decision, but at the same time, this was long overdue."

Looks to me like it was an "ethnic issue !" Anyway, pretty good week for Chavez. Gets a Navy ship and street named after him.

Last week was a pretty good week for me too. My daughter named her new puppy after me and one of my nephews gave one of his two new hamsters my name.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Some members of council expressed concerns that a vote to honor Chavez should be so 'divisive.' All of the Latino council members voted in favor of the name change, with the two Anglos, one African American, and one Asian American on council voting no.

"I don't want in any way try to make it seem like it was an ethnic issue," said Councilman Philip Cortez, who pushed for the name change. "This was an issue to honor an American hero. If my council colleagues didn't agree with what we did today, I respect their decision, but at the same time, this was long overdue."

Looks to me like it was an "ethnic issue !" Anyway, pretty good week for Chavez. Gets a Navy ship and street named after him.

Yes, just today I was wondering if he'd get a state named after him next!