So says the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, weighing in on the recently rekindled debate over whether to name a Pajaro Valley school after the legendary civil rights leader and founder of the United Farm Workers union.
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"(Chavez) is a very divisive name," said Steve Bontadelli, Farm Bureau vice president. "We should stick to the practices we’ve been using and recognize people who have done a lot of things for the local community."
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Alejo, who is spearheading the effort to get the new middle school named after Chavez, said he isn’t surprised by the Farm Bureau’s opposition.
The group opposed naming Pajaro Valley High School after Chavez two years ago. Support for recognizing the labor leader has grown since then, Alejo said. And in the face of recent stabbings and shootings in the community — referring to two area homicides in December and several stabbings since — Chavez’s belief in nonviolence will inspire young people to more positive paths, he said.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/February/05/local/stories/08local.htm