The city has identified at least 16 crosswalks and roadways across Austin that contain political messaging, following an order from Gov. Greg Abbott to remove such artworks or risk losing transportation funding.
Earlier this month, Abbott directed the Texas Department of Transportation to make sure cities remove “any and all political ideologies” from streets within 30 days. Austin’s rainbow crosswalk on Fourth Street and its “BLACK ARTISTS MATTER” mural on 11th Street in East Austin are among the 16 local spots at risk.
“Any city that refuses to comply with federal road standards will face consequences including the withholding or denial of state and federal road funding and suspension of agreements with TxDOT,” Abbott said in a statement.
San Antonio officials have said they will not remove the city’s rainbow crosswalks until they get clarification from state officials. In Austin, where at least $175 million in state and federal funding for Austin Transportation and Public Works is at risk, city officials have said they will comply with the governor’s order.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson confirmed the funding amount in a city message board, adding that more upcoming grant opportunities could be at-risk, too.
Watson, who said Abbott’s order is disappointing and a waste of time, has asked city officials to come up with a plan for representing the community in other ways. Banners along Bettie Naylor Street or permanent fixtures on city property like sidewalks or utility poles are ways to replace crosswalk and roadway art, he said.
“There's more than one way to show we care. There's more than one way to celebrate the good in our city,” Watson said.
The rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Fourth and Colorado streets. (Kelsey Bradshaw/City Cast Austin)
Over the weekend, activists called on the city to not comply with Abbott’s order. Austin Pride President Micah Andress told Fox 7 that Austin’s decision to remove the rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Fourth and Colorado streets was a slap in the face to the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
“I don’t understand why this is political. It’s a rainbow crosswalk. It’s certainly not a safety hazard,” Andress said.
A group was gathered near the rainbow crosswalk on Monday when someone poured red paint on it, local drag queen and activist Brigitte Bandit said. Austin firefighters helped the group clean off the red paint.
“We all got a photo together afterwards and enjoyed taking photos and celebrating queer joy on our FRESHLY CLEANED crosswalk,” Bandit said.
A petition to preserve the rainbow crosswalk and Black artists mural as cultural landmarks, among other demands, had 2,285 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.
