Plan to Rename Park After Chavez Stirs Controversy
A proposal to name Long Beach’s newest park after the late United Farm Workers union leader Cesar Chavez is creating controversy.
City Councilwoman Jenny Oropeza recommended the name Cesar Chavez Unity Park for the recreation area being constructed on Golden Avenue next to the Long Beach Freeway in the heavily Latino west end of the city.
“It seems like an obvious and appropriate choice given the community the park will serve and the values with which Cesar Chavez lived his life,” said Oropeza.
At a public meeting this week, however, some residents said they should have been consulted on the name. Their concerns have prompted the Housing and Neighbor Committee to postpone adopting a name in order to give Oropeza time to hold community meetings.
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