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Cesar Chavez day will likely be renamed — but what goes into a name?
A statue of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is displayed at the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Park on March 18, 2026 in San Fernando, California.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Today on AirTalk: Reactions to César Chávez renaming; Do AI guardrails lead to AI surveillance? Food Friday: Henrietta; and FilmWeek.
Cesar Chavez day will likely be renamed — but what goes into a name?
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12:23
Public officials across California are contemplating what to do with dozens of streets, parks and libraries named in honor of civil rights icon Cesar Chavez in the wake of allegations he sexually assaulted two girls and a woman decades ago. The allegations surfaced in an investigation by the New York Times published earlier this week that sent shock waves across the country. Chavez, who was head of the United Farm Workers union, is widely recognized as one of the most influential labor leaders in U.S. history, known for founding the union and for leading national boycotts of grapes to improve working conditions for farmworkers. Chavez died in 1993. As part of this conversation, what to do with “Cesar Chavez day,” which is enshrined on multiple levels of government as a day honoring the work of Chavez. Many proposals call for renaming the day to some version of “Farmworker’s day.” But what goes into a day’s name, and what exactly is the purpose of a day’s name? Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you: what do you think the day’s purpose is? Is it to give Mexican-Americans an iconic figure to look up to? Or to honor farmworkers? Or something else entirely? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com,
With files from LAist.
Do AI guardrails lead to AI surveillance?
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9:34
The wild west of AI is marching ever forward, with new advances seemingly happening just about every week. At the same time, concerns around AI have reached the point where laws regulating their use have been introduced in certain states, and in others like California they have been adopted. As of this year, AI chatbots that are used in the Golden State are supposed to inform users of suicide crisis resources should they express suicidal ideation. In a recent opinion piece in the Orange County Register, director of AI Innovation at the University of Texas School of Law and senior fellow at the Abundance Institute Kevin Frazier makes the case that government-imposed guardrails on AI chatbots infringe on users’ core liberties. He joins AirTalk this morning to explain further.
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Henrietta is serving California deli goods from over-the-counter and stocked shelves
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9:04
Although Los Angeles isn't necessarily for its delis, they've held enough of a presence to become a great lunch option for those craving flavorful veggies and meats. For those around the Echo Park area, you might be familiar with Henrietta, a one-stop shop to taste for flavorful sandwiches and salads. Today on AirTalk's Food Friday, we'll be talking about Henrietta and its reception since it opened early last year with Max Lesser, its owner.
FilmWeek: ‘Project Hail Mary,’ ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,’ ‘My Father's Shadow,’ and more!
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31:30
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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