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Committee to discuss state order on street art removal
“The city will wait for a determination from FDOT prior to taking any additional action on painted infrastructure,” Mayor Ken Welch said.
About 70 people gathered outside St. Petersburg City Hall Thursday to advocate for street art the state ordered to be removed.
The protest came just hours before the City Council told its Housing, Land Use and Transportation committee to discuss how St. Petersburg could comply with the order.
The Florida Department of Transportation bans art that can be distracting or misunderstood as traffic markings on roadways, sidewalks and intersections. It also bans displays “with social, political or ideological messages or images.”
That includes the rainbow-painted crosswalk on Central Avenue called the Progressive Pride Street Mural, one of the city’s LGBTQ+ art installations. The intersection at 25th Street was painted in 2020 to highlight St. Pete Pride, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the region.
ALSO READ: Why Florida is banning street art with political, social or ideological messaging
The statewide ban follows a directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to keep intersections and roadways “free from distractions” to reduce traffic fatalities.
In a statement, Mayor Ken Welch said St. Petersburg is trying to see whether the artwork – which was not funded by local, state or federal dollars – is exempt.
“The city will wait for a determination from FDOT prior to taking any additional action on painted infrastructure,” he said.
Rachel Covello moved to the St. Petersburg eight years ago after feeling welcomed by the rainbow artwork while visiting.
She was one of the protesters calling for the city to consider its options and fight for the symbols that represent inclusivity. She met her wife, Margaret, in St. Petersburg and began working for a travel blog for the LGBTQ community.
“I think those murals have become symbol as a welcome mat,” Covello said.
She’s worried if the city removes the colorful artwork, St. Petersburg won’t be able to attract residents like her.
“It shows that, despite everything happening in our country, despite everything happening on the statewide level, you belong here, you’re welcome here, you’re safe here,” she said.
She is hoping the city will take a stand like the city of Delray Beach, where city officials refused to remove Pride murals. Key West’s city commission is also fighting efforts to remove a rainbow-painted intersection.
Bobby Bonanno also protested before the city council meeting.
“They’re symbols that people drive by every day that show people that we’re here,” Bonanno said. “We are a community, we’re thriving, we’re growing.”
He said if the artwork is removed, it’s like erasing the city’s history.
“You can’t just paint over people,” he said.
Lily Belcher is a news intern for WUSF, the NPR station for the greater Tampa Bay area.
Ryan Todd
August 18, 2025at3:35 pm
I don’t understand why people feel the need to use the public right-of-way to express their sexual orientation. The public right-of-way is for traffic not sexual expression.
Jim Santamour
August 18, 2025at1:55 pm
RESIST!
Mona Hawkins
August 16, 2025at9:23 pm
We’re talking about a single painted crosswalk in a predominantly LGBTQ+ neighborhood/business district. Absolutely zero people are lobbying to paint any other of St. Pete’s crosswalks in rainbow colors, so how is that shoving it down your throat? Going by your opinion, I would think you’d be happy to have it clearly advertised what kind of neighborhood you’re in so you can avoid it.
Tom Tito
August 16, 2025at8:22 pm
This is yet another unfunded mandate from the state.
Linda Marr
August 16, 2025at6:06 pm
I don’t remember there ever being a vote on this street murals. Why is everything so one sided, shoving your opinions down everyone’s throat.
Unless is in the driver’s handbook, it should not be on the street. Keep it neutral, so drivers can focus on driving.
John Burgess
August 16, 2025at6:06 pm
“A recent memo from the Florida Department of Transportation bans art on travel lanes, paved shoulders, intersections, crosswalks, and sidewalks. FDOT said it’s to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.”
What more do they need to discuss? ….How about discussing improvements to our infrastructure, curtailing unfettered high rise developments, lowering our property taxes, and all the unattended necessities the residents need and pay their taxes to receive.
Welch and his puppets have no common sense when it comes to managing a large city. ….They even believe they can generate and provide power more efficiently than Duke even though they cannot provide water for a reasonable cost. …..The solution to most of our problems is to replace our tax and spend politicians and become a real city with competent management.
Donna Kostreva
August 16, 2025at3:33 pm
“You can’t just paint over people,” he said. There are no people painted anywhere. Put up a billboard to express yourself. Public roads are for vehicular traffiic, not political viewpoints.