Santa Cruz BLM mural could be removed under new federal rules
Briana Mathaw
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) – The controversy over political artwork on public streets is fueling a new federal safety push aimed at keeping roadways free of what officials call distractions.
One piece of art at the center of this debate is the Black Lives Matter mural outside Santa Cruz City Hall.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is calling for a crackdown on what it refers to as “political artwork” painted on roads and intersections.
That includes murals like the one in Santa Cruz, which has been repainted, restored, and celebrated by the community since 2020.
B”eing a part of something. The Black people come together. At last. We come together into something positive in that this mural on the street just gave me strength,” Curtis Reliford said. Curtis Reliford is a Santa Cruz resident.
Now, with a new federal directive in place, street murals could soon be scrutinized or removed if deemed noncompliant. But local advocates say that framing the art as a safety hazard misses the point entirely.
“This cannot be seen as a distraction. And the only question that we should be asking is who is it distracting and what is it distracting from, and what is it distracting towards,” Ayo Banjo said. Ayo Banjo is the Project Director of The Village Project, Inc.
According to the Department of Transportation, intersections and crosswalks should be free from political or distracting messages of any kind.
That has raised concerns about whether the Santa Cruz mural might eventually be ordered to come down.
“How is a painting on the road? On the street is a distraction, a low 25mph living within a 25mph street? I think it’s a 15mph street in front of the courthouse. How, how are we distracting,” Curtis Reliford said. Curtis Reliford is a Santa Cruz resident.
“I don’t think that it’s a distraction. I think by being a good driver and paying attention to what you’re supposed to be paying attention to,” Glynnes Speaks said. Glynnes Speaks lives in Soquel.
Critics of the new federal directive argue that the effort has more to do with silencing political expression than with preventing accidents.
“I think taking away our ability to express ourselves through art and through statements in public places is an infringement on our rights,” Glynnes Speaks said. Glynnes Speaks lives in Soquel.
States now have 60 days to submit lists of roadway markings the federal government considers noncompliant, including murals with political messages.
That has community leaders urging swift action to protect public art.
“Every single community leader must be standing up and fighting in solidarity with protecting this type of expression,” Ayo Banjo said. Ayo Banjo is the Project Director of The Village Project, Inc.
Federal officials point to more than 39,000 traffic deaths last year as a reason to implement stricter guidelines for roadway safety. But so far, they’ve released no data connecting any of those fatalities to painted murals.
“Safety should never be used as camouflage for censorship. Right. The Black Lives Matter mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall isn’t a distraction. It’s a declaration. A declaration that this city refuses to ignore injustice, refuses to erase history, and refuses to let visibility be treated like a threat,” Ayo Banjo said. Ayo Banjo is the Project Director of The Village Project, Inc.
When asked if the Santa Cruz mural could be directly affected, the city said they are currently unaware of any impact at this time.