The Florida Department of Transportation painted over the LGBTQ+ pride intersection in Delray Beach early Tuesday, according to city officials.
In the morning, passers-by found the rainbow-colored intersection, at the Northeast First Street and Northeast Second Avenue, was only partially covered with black markings. City spokesperson Gina Carter wrote in a statement that city officials had received an order from FDOT on Monday telling officials to remove the pride intersection, but they were unaware that the state would remove the art less than 12 hours later.
“This immediate action by FDOT did not allow the city commission the opportunity to review the order as an elected government body and decide how to move forward,” Carter wrote. “By acting outside of its process, FDOT disregarded the city’s good-faith efforts to follow established procedures.
“While FDOT’s action cannot be undone, Delray Beach remains steadfast in its commitment to unity, respect and the fundamental human rights that belong to every member of our community.”
Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, which helped pay for the street art, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the order came late at night and FDOT officials, flanked by the Florida Highway Patrol, were already repainting it hours later, about 2:30 a.m. However, due to a combination of rain and cars driving through the paint, the work appeared incomplete Tuesday, with much of the rainbow still showing through tire tracks.
“I totally don’t know what the rush was on this,” said Hoch, a former Palm Beach County judge. “… Is this the most pressing thing the state of Florida needs to do in the middle of the night? Destroy art?”
The former judge echoed the city’s comments about the order, saying the state violated the city’s due process by acting while litigation was still pending. The city could have appealed the order, he said.
Delray Beach officials had attended an informal hearing in Orlando on Sept. 2, making Delray the first city to discuss in person with Florida officials the future of crosswalk art on roadways since the controversial removal of the city’s Pulse rainbow crosswalk last month.
As for what will happen to the Delray Beach intersection, Hoch said it’s “in limbo.”
“I hope rain will continue to wash away the cover-up paint,” he said.
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