SHAME: Kansas City Avenida Cesar Chavez DEMANDS Rename

A nationwide controversy hits Kansas City's Westside today.

Here's the sitch . . . 

Based on a New York Times investigation, the late labor leader Cesar Chavez is facing explosive allegations of sexual abuse, including the grooming and assault of young girls and the rape of his longtime organizing partner, Dolores Huerta. 

The allegations have led to the cancellation of numerous Cesar Chavez Day celebrations nationwide, with the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, which he co-founded, calling the claims "deeply troubling" and "incompatible with our organization's values."

Other cities across the nation are coping with the impact of the crisis and stripping the dead labor leader of all his honors . . . Here's a quote from a report that confirms as much . . . 

"Latino leaders and elected officials say they are shocked by “deeply troubling” sexual misconduct allegations against Cesar Chavez, one of the Latino community’s most prominent civil rights icons, as planned annual celebrations of the late labor leader are canceled and his legacy as a labor movement hero is thrown into question.

Meanwhile in Kansas City . . . 

Only a handful of gringos have noticed the controversy and, of course, they want to rename the Blvd in honor Delores Huerta.  

Fun fact . . . TKC actually spent an afternoon with Ms. Huerta not-so-long ago and she's a nice lady but the name change wouldn't make any sense for this cowtown. 

Knowing our "local Latino leadership" we would guess that their main impulse would be to do nothing, pretend the crisis didn't exist and then quickly agree when somebody in charge told them what to do IN EXCHANGE for some kind of personal gain. Or at least that's the way it has typically worked throughout the modern era.

Here at TKC we can "do better" and that's where our blog community brings SOLUTIONS rather than just reactions . . . Check-it . . .  

OUR TKC BLOG COMMUNITY STARTS THE BIDDING WITH KCMO SUGGESTIONS FOR THE AVENIDA CESAR CHAVEZ RENAME!!!

Of course, we'll start the bidding and we welcome replies, even more suggestions and all manner of helpful comments that Internets and our www.TonysKansasCity.com blog community typically share.

Again, whilst Latino communities across nation are grappling with this cancellation . . . We'll use it to reveal that our blog actually knows more about the local Latino community than any other metro news source.  

So, let's start rename suggestions before the Crossroads beings building more even condos and making the point moot . . .

Former KCMO Councilman Bob Hernandez

Apropos for #TBT, "Bobby" Hernandez was one of the first citywide Latino elected officials in KCMO and his legacy still resonates throughout the community, especially when he makes a controversial election endorsement that angers most of his old friends.

Former GCI Executive Cris Medina

This is probably our best suggestion given that he helped to name the street in the first place AND it sits along his former office and the local institution he was also instrumental in building. 

Theresa Garza

For the sake of equity . . . Whilst she's currently an Alderman (Alderwoman???) in Raytown, she was actually the first Latina elected official in Jackson County and, in fairness, she still has family in the community even if she didn't reside in KC proper limits when she tried to become a council lady not-so-long ago . . . 

Salvador Perez

First of all . . . Why should street dedications have to be so serious??? Of course, the Westside earned its "fame" as a Mexican-American community but let's think ahead . . . As the Latino community grows there will be more diversity and other immigrants who want to share their heritage and culture. Also . . . Salvy is just coming off an EPIC win for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic so this would be a perfect time to bring some fun, smiles and a glimpse of the future to KC's Westside. 

Chris Hernandez

Finally . . . On the topic of righting historic wrongs . . . Maybe City Hall can make amends with former Communications Director Chris Hernandez beyond the 1.4 MILLION BUCKS they had to pay him. Remember, Mr. Hernandez started out as the first openly gay Latino journalist working in Kansas City and he's still generally well-liked by more than a few newsies who remember when 12th & Oak wasn't so hostile to any coverage . . .

Accordingly . . .

Whilst TKC never really understood the adoration for the old school union boss icon and his legacy is mostly amongst the boomers . . .  

We welcome more rebrand suggestions as many amongst Kansas City's Latino community rethink their allegiance to the memory of a former civil rights leader who has now been labelled as a creeper posthumously. 

Developing . . .