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Another Trinity River Controversy?
The City of Dallas and the Trinity River folks want to start changing the names of streets around the Trinity River project and they want to start things off by renaming Industrial Blvd. The idea is to create a sense of "place" for visitors of the multi-billion dollar project. They wanted to involve the public but not many people showed up for the meetings for renaming the street. The alternative was to take a poll on the internet.
The options for the name change involved some names of people and others involved the Trinity. These names were submitted by the public and do not necessarily fit the goals of the Trinity River planners. It sounds like the people promoting the internet poll never dreamed the name "Cesar Chavez Blvd" would be the top vote getter in the poll. It now presents a dilemma for city leaders with the authority to make the name change official.
The vote will probably go against naming the street Cesar Chavez Blvd but it will hurt feelings and cause problems in the future. The Hispanic community wants a major thoroughfare in Dallas to have that name because Mr. Chavez is one of their heroes. He fought hard for Hispanics in this country to receive a fair wage and to be treated with respect. Mr. Chavez was an advocate for this community and it is felt to be the right time to honor him.
I believe they are right. Industrial Blvd should have the name Cesar Chavez Blvd because the city asked for input and received it. The other names on the list simply do not have any sense of history behind them like this name. The Hispanic community is backing this proposal and they should be heard.
The name Cesar Chavez does not have any meaning for the Trinity Project or for Dallas as a city but the citizens of Dallas want this change and unless there was a campaign to manipulate the responses the name should be used. If the name is not used it will be used on another road that may not have the profile the Hispanic community will be able to support.
The old expression "be careful what you ask for you might get it" is in play with the new name for Industrial Blvd. The city can learn a lesson from this experience. If they have better names or a different idea for something they should only allow names relating to the project. This was not done and therefore I believe the name should reflect the poll results.