CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The artwork on a Coral Gables crosswalk had a $180,000 price tag, plus tens of thousands of dollars to maintain it every year, which was paid by taxpayers.
It was right in front of Coral Gables City Hall and was painted by the late Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz Diez.
The art was purchased in 2017 using money from the city’s Art in Public Places program.
In late August, the intersection was painted over.
The Florida Department of Transportation says crosswalks must be painted to code: No murals, no flags.
Because the Coral Gables crosswalk fell under state jurisdiction, the art had to be removed.
In a statement provided to Local 10 News, the city said, in part: “The city of Coral Gables did not make the decision to remove this artwork. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) informed us that, under a new state law that went into effect on July 1, 2025, all non-standard crosswalk markings on state roads must be removed.”
According to FDOT, a lack of compliance could result in transportation funds being withheld.
Last month, the rainbow-colored crosswalk outside of Pulse nightclub in Orlando was painted over.
Many of the crosswalks being removed celebrate minority groups and the LGBTQ+ community.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says it’s a mandate across the board.
“This has been addressed statewide, on any issue under the sun,” he said. “They’re doing it uniformly throughout the state.”
Some South Florida cities are fighting FDOT, including Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
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