ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch on Aug. 25 said his administration has “looked at every option” and does not see a pathway through litigation to defend five street murals that will be removed by the state, including the large rainbow in the heart of the city’s Grand Central district.
“Make no mistake, this will not be the end of the story,” said Welch, whose city hosts the largest LGBTQ+ Pride parade in the Southeast U.S. Standing by him were Byron Green-Calisch, president of St. Pete Pride, and City Council chairperson Copley Gerdes. “Our response will be strategic, not reactionary.”
The Florida Department of Transportation is targeting street art for removal, enforcing a new state directive that cities keep their streets “free and clear of political ideologies.” St. Petersburg asked for an exemption for its street murals last week, arguing that they create a strong sense of community and make roads safer…