SAN FERNANDO : Council Votes for Chavez Holiday

The San Fernando City Council has honored Cesar Chavez by declaring his birthday a legal holiday, joining a growing movement statewide to pay tribute to the late labor leader.

After considering several options, the City Council voted Monday to replace one of 12 city holidays, Admission Day, with a new city holiday on March 31, a move that will not require additional city funds.

“I look at this individual to be another hero,” said Councilman Jose Hernandez, who proposed the holiday last month after residents of the city, which is 83% Latino, pushed for a permanent tribute.

One resident, Everto (Veto) Ruiz, spoke in favor of honoring the former leader of the United Farm Workers union, who died at age 66 in April.

“The world knew of Cesar Chavez. Our city needs to lift up the life of Cesar Chavez,” said Ruiz, a CSUN professor.

The council turned down other proposals to honor Chavez, including the establishment of a memorial at a city park. Other government agencies, including the county of Los Angeles, have proposed renaming streets and facilities after Chavez.

Admission Day recognizes California’s statehood.

The council also passed a resolution commending the hunger strikers who fasted for 14 days to urge UCLA administrators to create a separate Chicano Studies department. Two of the nine hunger strikers, sisters Norma and Cindy Montanez, are San Fernando residents and will be honored during a future council meeting.