Posted on 07/06/2010 4:06:31 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
Caltrans apologized Tuesday for covering a mural of an American flag on Interstate 680 last week, a move that triggered howls of indignation and inspired two men to repaint it, and the agency said it will meet with the original artists to create another mural.
"Caltrans regrets the removal of the flag mural," Caltrans spokesman Matt Rocco said in a prepared statement. "The department will work with the artists and local community to discuss the department's current permitting process for transportation art with the goal of placing another mural at a suitable location."
It cost $1,324.67 in labor, equipment and materials to paint over the original flag, Rocco said. He said the current location "may not be suitable," but "at this moment, the flag will not be painted over."
Residents R.J. Waldron, of Alamo, Eric Noda, of Dublin, and Thomas Hanley, of Redwood City, painted the 35-foot mural overlooking the highway near the Sunol Grade on Sept. 24, 2001, to honor those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The flag, which covered a concrete siding, was on state property.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Really odd that Caltrans decided the flag mural was grafitti NINE YEARS after it was painted and just before July 4th...
and also just down the road from where those kids were sent home by their HS principal for wearing patriotic USA t-shirts on Cinqo de Mayo..!!!
commie.pinko.fags.
“at a suitable location”...yea right...govt double speak...why not right the h*ll where it was? getting real F’ing tired fo this so called “administration”
Caltrans spokesman Allyn Amsk told Bay Area News Group on June 30 that it had recently come to his department's attention that the flag was on state land without permission. "We don't allow graffiti on state property. No matter what kind of graffiti it is, we don't show favoritism," Amsk said Wednesday.
So it has already been repainted by patriots at their own time and expense, but yet Caltrans says it plans to put up a mural at a more suitable location?
Want to bet this won’t be a giant American flag?
And they spent taxpayer money to have it removed!
Some of Cheech Marin’s family no doubt.
LLS
I live pretty close to this mural and was saddened when it was painted over. Looks beautiful again now that it’s been repainted.
So much wrong here! Almost scary, Lenin would be proud of such Bitchaucrats; and symptomatic of fuzzy thinking based on the concerned and offended feeling good.
“The department will work with the artists and local community to discuss the department’s current permitting process for’’’’’’’’
Permitting process! Sure, lots of red tape and permit fees. Makes sense. They have to grab every buck they can while the state is still functioning - out of money - but still functioning!
Someone find this person’s information (Caltrans spokesman Allyn Amsk) and post it on the internet, just like they do to REAL Americans.
Where does it live, who do they contribute to, is it married, google it’s house and post pictures. All in the name of public domain.
FIGHT BACK!
A permit might be needed for people (non employees) to access and perform work within the Right of Way. I would assume the Dept of Transportation also wants some sort of agreement that if the muralists get hurt on the property that they won’t sue the state (unfortunately this does happen). The permits should be free however.
Commie loser.
Great, Good for you and your fake apology.
A real and genuine act of contrition would be to invite the artists back to re-paint their mural.
L.A. County spent taxpayer money to remove the cross from the County seal, at all locations where it is displayed. I wonder what that cost? I think we need more than apologies. We need REFUNDS, then ship these cabrones off to Cuba.
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