By BJ Austin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-720305.mp3
Dallas, TX – The idea is to upgrade the name of Industrial Blvd to better fit into the Trinity River Corridor project and surrounding development.
The Trinity committee was to recommend a name last week, but bit a snag when a city-sponsored poll showed 52% wanted Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Black and Anglo council members favor Riverfront Blvd. Hispanic Council members brokered a delay on a vote. Now, the Dallas chapter of Lulac, League of United Latin American Citizens, has launched the Cesar Chavez Task Force. Chairman Alberto Ruiz says Cesar Chavez is a champion of human rights and non violence on a par with Martin Luther King Jr.
Ruiz: Dallas does not need to marginalize the value of this debate. I urge all people in Dallas to learn more about what it means to the Latino community.
Former National Lulac President Hector Flores calls on the City Council to respect the survey vote and the Hispanic community.
Flores: Why do a poll and go thru this process if it's going to be a charade, when the results were not what they expected. And I think that's a basic issue.
At the City Hall launch of the Task Force, officials glossed over a secondary goal of the group: a different major thoroughfare named for Chavez. Alberto Ruiz says the first priority is Industrial Blvd.
A committee vote is August 5th.