AUSTIN (KXAN) — After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas cities to remove ‘political ideologies’ from streets — including displays like Austin’s rainbow crosswalks and the ‘Black Artists Matter’ road mural — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is asking Austin to get creative.
“I’ve asked staff to immediately help with a plan to allow for us to represent our diverse community, show our love and pride, and allow Austinites to participate in expression,” Watson wrote in a message board post. “For example, I envision banners along Bettie Naylor Street, potential permanent fixtures on city-owned property like sidewalks or utility poles, potential painting of sidewalks, and things I’m sure I’m not thinking about.”
It comes after the governor said all counties and cities must remove any and all political ideologies from Texas streets. Abbott said, in part, that move is “to keep Texas moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas.”
The city of Austin told KXAN it is still assessing the number of locations that will require work, and therefore does not have an estimate of how much it will cost them to remove and replace the displays. They did say they would comply with the governor’s order.
“Failure to remove the paint would jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars. Austin Transportation and Public Works alone currently has $175 million in state and federal grant funding. Of course, there are also additional grant opportunities coming up that could be lost,” Watson wrote.
But moving forward, Watson says the city can utilize property “fully controlled” by the city, which will allow similar art to go up in a way that will not be in violation of state or federal requirements.
“Let’s have staff come up with a proposal that will assure creative participation by Austinites as we demonstrate how Austin’s pride, love, and diversity won’t be suppressed. There’s more than one way to show we care. There’s more than one way to celebrate the good in our city,” Watson ended.
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