FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is doubling down on the state’s efforts to remove colorful crosswalks from intersections across the state as city leaders in Fort Lauderdale plan to meet Wednesday to discuss how to approach the state’s orders.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where we say, ‘Well, that mural is fine and that’s not.’ Then you get into a content thing and all that. No, we’re just not doing it. We’re out of that business in Florida,” DeSantis said.
The Florida Department of Transportation says crosswalks must be painted to code. No murals. No flags. All in the name of safety.
But some say there’s more to the policy change.
Protesters in Fort Lauderdale say the rainbow crosswalks are safe and symbolic.
“What statistics do you have that they aren’t safe? Because they’re out there and they are safer than what people are claiming,” protester Eric Swanson, also known as Miss. Bouvéè, said.
But the governor backs the decision, with support from FDOT.
“We have a new law, we have a new standard and we’re simply implementing that standard across the board,” Florida Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said. “Pavement art is not allowed, and we’re removing everything that’s not compliant with state (and) federal standards, and that’s the approach that we’re taking.”
Wednesday’s meeting in Fort Lauderdale is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
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