By Shauna Muckle
Tampa Bay Times
TAMPA — The city of Tampa will comply with a state order to remove pavement art from its streets, a spokesperson said Monday.
Pieces of art slated for removal include a “Back the Blue” mural painted by pro-police activists in 2020 along Madison Street, near the Tampa Police Department, and a hand painted red, yellow, green and blue in the intersection between East Henderson Avenue and North Franklin Street that was sponsored by the Tampa Bay LGBT chamber. That’s according to a list of 47 decorative crosswalks, intersections and other non-compliant features the city sent the state.
Tampa and St. Petersburg received near-identical letters from local state transportation secretary Justin Hall on Friday. In Tampa, the state identified 44 locations, including an intersection on Madison Street near the “Back the Blue” mural, where pavement art must be removed, or the city will risk losing state funds.
“City of Tampa crews will begin removing some painted street art this week, following recent direction from FDOT,” said Josh Cascio, spokesperson for Tampa’s mobility department, in a statement.
The city provided the state transportation department with the list of artworks slated for removal so it can assist, Cascio said. Tampa , like St. Petersburg , has been given until Sept. 4 to remove the art and expects “to finish on or around that timeframe,” he said.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said he will allow the state to remove the pavement art in his city, rather than directing city crews to remove it.
Orlando has also agreed to comply with a similar removal order after state transportation crews filled in a rainbow crosswalk commemorating the Pulse nightclub shooting last week. Smaller cities like Delray Beach and Key West have said they’ll fight back, requesting hearings next week where they plan to challenge the state’s legal right to remove pavement markings from city streets.
“This doesn’t mean art is disappearing from Tampa,” Cascio said. “We continue to encourage and celebrate community art projects in spaces where they can truly shine. Let’s keep Tampa colorful together.”
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