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Caesar Chavez Foundation acknowledges abuse revelations and will work with Baldwin Park to revise Esteban E. Torres mural
Summary
At a May 6 special meeting, the Caesar Chavez Foundation apologized for revelations that Cesar Chavez sexually abused women and minors, pledged restorative support for survivors and said it will consider renaming the foundation; the Baldwin Park City Council urged inclusive mural revisions and asked the foundation and artist to return with concepts.
The Baldwin Park City Council on May 6 heard a statement from the Caesar Chavez Foundation and an artist team about plans to revise a mural at the Esteban E. Torres village, 14625 Ramona Boulevard, after recent revelations about Cesar Chavez.
Steven Hernandez, director of business development for the Caesar Chavez Foundation, read a prepared statement saying the foundation was “shocked, incredibly disappointed and deeply pained” by the revelations and that “to the survivors, we believe you. We honor your courage.” Hernandez said the foundation acknowledges the prevalence of abuse and is working with sexual-abuse and trauma specialists as it considers next steps, including a late-August board vote on the organization’s future name.
Council members praised the artist’s quick work to modify the mural and urged the foundation to make the next design iteration more inclusive and representative of the neighborhood. Multiple council members said the mural project remains a valuable community asset but that the city and foundation should add transparency steps to the nomination and approval process to avoid procedural gaps that led to the current situation.
Artist Levi Pon — introduced to the council alongside his son, Eli — was commended by council members for repainting parts of the work and was asked to return with a few conceptual sketches. Council members suggested thematic directions such as intergenerational roots, the “four pillars” (education, health, culture, housing) and a focus on local farmworker and Filipino-American contributions to reflect Baldwin Park’s diversity.
Foundation project manager Caesar Tilo and Hernandez said the foundation will solicit council feedback, consult with family members and return to a future council meeting with revised concepts. Council members confirmed they want to see concept options at the next public council meeting rather than proceeding without further input.
Next steps: the foundation and artist will prepare and submit conceptual designs for council review at a future meeting; Hernandez said the foundation’s board will vote on any organizational-name changes in late August.
(Reporting note: quotes and attributions are taken from remarks read and spoken during the May 6 Baldwin Park City Council special meeting.)
