The ongoing clash between state authorities and several Florida cities over the presence of rainbow crosswalks has escalated, with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) ordering the removal of Pride-themed pavement art, including in Miami Beach. According to 7News, FDOT has issued a mandate to erase the rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street by Sept. 4, an order that has been met with disapproval from both local officials and the public.
Miami Beach’s response to the state’s directive is one of resistance, with some city commissioners planning to appeal the order as early as their next meeting. “We need to resist this action. We need to protect the individuality of our community, the freedom and the safety that our rainbow crosswalk expresses to the world,” Commissioner Alex Fernandez stated in an interview with 7News. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the decision on social media, stating, “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”
Other Florida cities, such as Delray Beach and Key West, are also grappling with similar orders from FDOT, which demand the removal of rainbow-painted crosswalks and intersections. The state agency has cited concerns that these installations, which do not serve the purpose of traffic control, can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, thus jeopardizing safety. Commissioner Laura Dominguez of Miami Beach disagreed with this premise, telling Local 10, “We’ve had it there without incident all this time.”…