Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, joined Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, Tuesday to introduce a bicameral bill to rename a San Diego post office after the late Mexican-American civil rights advocate Armando Rodriguez. If passed, the building in Logan Heights would be renamed from its current design ation as the César E. Chávez Post Office. Rodriguez immigrated to the United States from Mexico as a child and grew up on Logan Avenue, where the post office is located. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Rodriguez enlisted in the Army and earned U.S. citizenship. Once he returned to San Diego, Rodriguez organized an American Legion Post, taught at a nearby junior high school and was appointed as the first director of Mexican American Affairs by President Lyndon Johnson. “Armando Rodriguez was a trailblazing educator, a civil rights activist, a champion for Latino communities, and a dedicated public servant who worked in multiple presidential administrations for presidents of both parties,” Vargas said. “Armando rose to the highest levels of our government but he never forgot his roots in our community and was committed to creating opportunity for students everywhere. Renaming the post office will help ensure that Armando’s extraordinary life and legacy is always remembered.” Following his stint in the Johnson administration, he served as the assistant commissioner of education in the Office of Regional Office Coordination under President Richard Nixon. Rodriguez became the first Latino president of East Los Angeles College, and in 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Armando Rodriguez was a champion for civil liberties and educational opportunities for Latino communities in California,” Padilla said. “His legacy has left an indelible mark on San Diego and it’s only right that we recognize his contributions as a Latino civil rights advocate. Renaming this post office ensures his legacy remains a part of American history for future generations.” Rodriguez died in 2019 and “has been remembered by communities nationwide for his long life of service and advocacy,” according to a statement from the congressmen. ...read more read less