ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, Ronald Lucius Salazar, for eighteen years a dedicated City of Chicago employee and community good will ambassador attached to the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as a Planning Coordinator, unexpectedly passed away at the age of fifty-three; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his tragic passing by Alderman Margaret Laurino; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Lucius Salazar was born on March 4, 1965 in Manila, Philippines, to Rosalina and the late Faustino Salazar; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Lucius Salazar graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Architecture and worked as an architect for Teng & Associates from 1995-2000; and
WHEREAS, as a Department of Cultural Affairs employee, Ronald Lucius Salazar helped assemble and coordinate numerous exhibitions, neighborhood farmers' markets, film festivals, concerts, community street fairs and Park District events across the city including the Maxwell Street Market, the popular Taste of Chicago, and the annual Christkindlmarket held in the Richard J. Daley Civic Center Plaza; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Lucius Salazar dedicated his life to spreading cultural awareness to Chicagoans from all walks of life, and was actively involved with a number of organizations to promote awareness and appreciation of Philippine history and culture, including the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago; the Chicago Cultural Alliance; the Philippine American Cultural Foundation; the Jose Rizal Community Center; the Field Museum's Philippine Co-Curator Team; the CIRCA Pintig Theater Group; and the Piyesta Pinoy Planning Committee; and
WHEREAS, as an avid traveler, Ronald Lucius Salazar experienced and savored cultural diversity, viewing his time abroad as not only a journey but a destination full of richness and wonder awaiting him; and
WHEREAS, greatly admired and respected not only as a devoted friend and family man, but also as a philanthropist and mentor, Ronald Lucius Salazar is described as an "architect, a humanist; always humble, benevolent, compassionate, loving and caring, working behind the scene to enliven Chicago, making Chicago what it is today;" and
WHEREAS, Ronald Lucius Salazar passed away in Chicago on January 26, 2019.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
Section 1. Pursuant to section 2-8-040 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, which allows erection of honorary street name designations the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation shall take the necessary action for standardization of North Elston Avenue between North Cicero Avenue and North Kimberly Avenue as "Honorary Ronald Lucius Salazar Way."
Margaret Laurino Alderman, 39th Ward
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication.