Oh, Sam Adams, how I love the, how I wish the weren't a blabbering fool. Oh, how you give the gift of diversity whilst you remove our own city identity. Shall I compare the to a racial whitewasher, taking what was once unique and personal, and transforming it into an international renaming fest?
Ok, not Shakespeare (and maybe not even grammatically correct. But I think you get it.)
Yesterday on the radio I heard the first of a plan to rename South East 39th avenue (running from Sandy Boulevard in the north to some ungodly place south of Trader Joes by Holgate). The new name: César Chávez Boulevard / S.E. 39th Av. I mean come on! In the name of diversity, Sam Adams? For the sake of our Latin American community? Please! I am by no means trying to put down or disenfranchise the Hispanic community in Portland or the rest of the country. I am proud that America continues to diversify. My beef is this: if you want to promote diversity and pride in heritage, then don't change those things that we are borne of. South East 39th avenue is a highly recognizable and uniquely Portland street. It is part of who we are as Portlanders. I feel as if Mr. Adams is trying to say, "39th Av. was the white Portland, now, here you have César Chávez Boulevard, the integrated Portland."
Again, puh-leaze.
If you are trying to pledge some sort of symbolic homage to this city's diversity, then why don't we have more Latin-American inspired, city funded festival and art installations? On the East side. No more of this Downtown-centric bull. Ironically, I believe that if Adams wanted to make a bigger statement, he would have chosen a downtown inspired street to be named. How about City Hall at Chávez and Main?
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