DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) was back in Delray Beach on Wednesday morning to paint over the city's Pride crosswalk for the second time.
FDOT was at the intersection of Northeast First Street and Northeast Second Avenue already on Tuesday morning to paint over the mural, but the fresh paint was washed away by rain.
Removal of the mural on Tuesday sparked rage within the city, with dozens of residents filling City Hall in the evening to voice support for the mural and condemn the state's actions.
At around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, the city’s mayor, Tom Carney, came to the intersection.
He told WPTV reporter Victor Jorges the city of Delray Beach might join the city of Fort Lauderdale in a lawsuit, hoping to protect the crosswalk. He also said the money potentially lost from FDOT is around $60 million.
He says it’s not fair that the city wasn’t given the option to comply. He says he’d rather comply, then sue. But he says they didn’t get the option to do that.
Carney wants to move the mural to another location where, he argues, it could have more visibility, without jeopardizing state dollars. He says he’s getting emails from people saying they don’t want to lose the mural, others saying they don’t want to lose the money.
WPTV spoke with a longtime Delray Beach resident, Tom Leeman, who said the mural was a sign of diversity and acceptance. He doesn’t believe the state should withhold funds.
WATCH: WPTV looks into the legal ramifications of FDOT’s decision
“I think the definition of that is extortion,” he said. “When you tell somebody, ‘Hey, if you don’t do what we want you to do, we’re going to pull all your money away.'"
Last night, the city commission voted 3-1 to join other South Florida cities in petitioning for relief from the Division of Administration Hearings and restore the intersection.
Read more of WPTV's coverage below:
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