Miami Beach commissioners set to vote on crosswalk removal as FDOT’s deadline looms

Miami Beach commissioners are set to meet Wednesday to discuss the state s crosswalk dispute as municipalities have one day to decided whether they ll get rid of the colorful symbolic messages or peril losing state funding Leading up to the highly anticipated meeting hundreds of people marched along Washington Avenue over the weekend carrying rainbow flags and signs I believe in freedom of expression and I think all rights are human rights commented protester Jo Manning Protesters are pushing back against the states order to erase a rainbow painted pride crosswalk and other street art in the city The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered all municipalities to remove street art related to social political or ideological beliefs or hazard losing state funding Miami Beach city administrators will decide whether to remove its crosswalk at th street and Ocean Drive or fight the order Protesters noted state representatives just want to cover up beliefs that do not align with their own They are trying to erase the LGBTQ plus district mentioned protester Karen Matroni It s about the first amendment It s about the freedom of speech and of subject it s about equality commented Julie protester In a June memo from FDOT leaders pointed to safety concerns over pavement markings but Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava disagrees It s not even a safety concern because authentically these are proven to be safer for pedestrians mentioned Cava Miami beach joins cities like Fort Lauderdale which has its own pride crosswalk specific residents walk to see protected along Sebastian street and A A The original rainbow crosswalk was painted to honor the people killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando back in while state bureaucrats have already painted over the crosswalk protesters still gather to color in with chalk even though its temporary they say its message lasts