Modest Proposal : Honor Chavez, But Preserve Others’ History

The Los Angeles City Council has voted to start the process of changing the name of one of our major streets to honor the late Cesar Chavez. As a lifelong resident and historian of Los Angeles, I am delighted and dismayed with this plan.

I am delighted because of Chavez’s contribution to our society. He is emblematic of the spirit that has built our country. The sacrifices and struggles that he endured on behalf of the farm workers in particular and all working men and women in general represent the qualities of a true American hero.

I am dismayed because the proposal involves the elimination of Brooklyn Avenue and Macy Street. For ages we have used place, building and street names as a means of honoring those who have contributed to the betterment of society. This is the tradition that we are carrying on in naming a street after Chavez. But when we change a street name, we must be careful in choosing which street to rename.

Brooklyn Avenue was the main street of Boyle Heights when it was Los Angeles’ principal Jewish community. The name “Brooklyn” refers to the New York borough that was the point of origin for many of these early residents. As much of the Jewish community moved to Los Angeles’ Westside, Brooklyn Avenue served as a reminder to this rich period of Los Angeles history.

Macy Street honors Dr. Obed Macy, an early physician in Los Angeles and owner of the Bella Union, the first hotel to serve Los Angeles. His son, Oscar Macy, was a crusading newspaper editor and noted businessman. Oscar also served as Los Angeles City Treasurer during the 1880s.

Both of these street names, “Brooklyn” and “Macy,” recall a rich part of our history and should be preserved as a reminder of our past.

An alternative would be renaming a combination of 4th and 3rd streets from the Harbor Freeway to Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles. This road, a major commuter link through Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, has ramps from the Harbor, Santa Ana and Pomona Freeways and a Metro Rail stop downtown. Designating this busy street “Avenida Cesar Chavez” would honor a great American without slighting others who have also contributed to our heritage as a people.