Update: On February 15th, the Boyle Heights City Council voted to rename a Boyle Heights block for ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez despite recent objections raised by the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council. Citing an outpouring of support from people in the neighborhood, City Councilman Kevin De Leon said, "Today, our city council took the rare action to recognize ‘Chente’ for his cultural contributions by memorializing him at one of our city’s most cherished venues, Mariachi Plaza.... Through his music, he has etched his place in history and on the hearts of fans who will forever cherish him." The renaming had the support of Councilmembers including Mitch O'Farrell and Neighborhood Council Member and Boyle Heights local Carlos Montes.
The following story was published on Jan. 21, 2022
Anyone feeling joyful about City Councilman Kevin de Leon’s recent motion to rename a block of Boyle Heights’ Bailey Street for legendary Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez may have broken out the tequila too early.
At a Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council (BHNC) meeting last night, de Leon’s proposal was handed an initial rejection, with a letter explaining why the Council would not support the proposal, which will go on to a final vote next week at its general board meeting.
In a letter, the BHNC cited de Leon’s failure to alert the council of the motion, claiming some members-only became aware of it through media reports. Furthermore, the Council objected to some less-than-cool things Chente had said and done, claiming it would be “inappropriate” to give him that honor in light of a well-documented homophobic comment he’d made in the past, his acknowledged unfaithfulness to his wife, and accusations of inappropriately touching women, as recently as the month of his death.