MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The state of Florida recently sent a noncompliance letter to the city of Miami Beach, taking aim at the rainbow crosswalk at Ocean Avenue and 12th Street.
“It feels like the state wants to erase our vibrant community,” said Miami Beach Commissioner Laura Dominguez.
Miami Beach is not alone in the fight.
From Delray Beach to Key West, the Florida Department of Transportation is ordering the removal of “surface art that is associated with social, political, or ideological messaging… that does not serve the purpose of traffic control.”
FDOT is claiming they “can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, jeopardizing both driver and pedestrian safety.”
“We’ve had it there without incident all this time,” said Dominguez. “We installed it in coordination with the county.”
Miami Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava posted what appeared to be a defiant message on social media, stating “Let me be clear. We will not be silenced or erased.”
Per the FDOT letter, the crosswalk must be removed by Sept. 4 or the department will remove it for them, leaving the city to front the cost.
“These are actual pavers,” said Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez. “This is something that was constructed, that has been here for almost a decade.”
Meanwhile in Orlando, FDOT employees painted over the pride crosswalk outside of Pulse Nightclub, where 49 mostly LGBTQ members were murdered when a gunman opened fire in 2016.
“That’s almost a message of ‘we don’t want you here’ and a that’s sad,” said AJ Prasaguet, the manager of Palace Bar in Miami Beach. “It’s all about love, and bringing everyone together”
While Miami Beach commissioners plan to address the letter at their Sept. 3 meeting, the city can request an administrative proceeding, but the markings must still be removed.
Delray Beach and Key West are already appealing the decision on this.
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