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Jesse Arreguin
City Councilmember, District 4
CONSENT CALENDAR
March 10, 2015
To:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:
Councilmember Jesse Arreguín
Subject: Declaring the Cesar Chavez-Dolores Huerta Commemorative Period and
Renaming the Cesar Chavez Commemorative Planning Committee
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Resolution:
a. Declaring the period of March 20, 2015 to April 23, 2015 as the Cesar
Chavez/Dolores Huerta Commemorative Period in the City of Berkeley;
b. Approving the renaming of the “Berkeley Cesar Chavez Commemorative
Planning Committee” to the “Chavez/Huerta Commemoration Committee”; and
c. Reiterating the City of Berkeley’s support for designating March 31 as a federal
Cesar Chavez Holiday.
2. Direct the City Manager to post on the city’s event calendar Chavez/Huerta
Commemorative events
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
None. The Street Events and Festivals Budget already include an annual allocation for
Cesar Chavez commemorative activities.
BACKGROUND
Cesar E. Chavez is one of the most influential civil rights and labor leaders in American
history, who was an advocate for farm workers rights and social justice for all. As the
co-founder of the United Farm Workers union with Dolores Huerta, the two formed an
amazing organizing team that successfully organized a union for farm workers and won
collective bargaining agreements providing increased wages, benefits and improved
working conditions for some of the most oppressed workers in our society. They also
became leaders and role models for Latinos throughout the United States. Chavez
sadly passed away on April 23, 1993.
In honor of Chavez, in 1996 the park that was previously known as North Waterfront
Park was renamed after César E. Chávez.
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7140 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7144
E-Mail: [email protected]
In 1999, the Berkeley City Council adopted a resolution supporting the designation of
March 31 as a state and federal holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez.
In 2000, the State of California made César Chávez’ birthday, March 31, a legal holiday
for state workers and university students. He is the only labor leader and only Latino to
have a state holiday. In 2003, the City of Berkeley created a commemorative period to
honor César Chávez (March 20th to April 23).
In 2004, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved the Phase I Design for the
Chávez Memorial proposed for César Chávez Park. It is in the form of an ancient solar
calendar and honor four virtues of Chávez: Hope, determination, Courage and
tolerance/non-violence.
Since 2003, the Cesar Chavez Commemorative Planning Committee, a group made up
of community leaders and groups – including the Berkeley Unified School District, the
Ecology Center, and the University of California– have organized events and community
service opportunities in the Berkeley community in honor of César Chávez’s legacy.
In 2014, the Chavez Commemoration Committee voted to also honor Dolores Huerta in
recognition of her vital partnership with Cesar Chavez, her dedicated commitment to
farm workers and in the formation of the UFW, and her current work with the Dolores
Huerta Foundation and in political activism and organizing on a variety of social causes.
The Committee voted to rename the group the “Chavez/Huerta Commemoration
Committee”. This item seeks Council approval of the renaming of the committee.
In 2014, the Committee also voted to incorporate Latino Heritage Month into its planning
to celebrate Latino history and culture. The Committee organized a Latino Heritage
Month event with Dolores Huerta and Fred Ross Jr. at the Florence Schwimley Little
Theater at Berkeley High School. Latino Heritage Month will be recognized from
September 15 to October 15 each year.
While the State of California declared March 31 a state holiday for state employees and
a day of service learning for public schools, there is not federal holiday or even city
holiday to recognize the many contributions Cesar Chavez made to American society.
This item also reiterates the City of Berkeley’s support for the creation of a federal
Cesar Chavez holiday.
CONTACT PERSON
Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember, District 4
510-981-7140
Attachments:
1: Resolution
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7140 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7144
E-Mail: [email protected]
Attachment 1
Attachment
Not Received
Attachment 1 to this report has not been received
from the submitting office.
City Clerk Department
2180 Milvia Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-6900
The City of Berkeley, City Council’s Web site:
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/citycouncil/