HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/21/2020 Item 15, Root
Purrington, Teresa
From:Allen Root <allen.t.root@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, January 20, 2020 1:21 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Art Policy
Esteemed Mayor and Council,
I request that you pause on one aspect of the Public Art Policy you are
considering Tuesday night. I would be speaking with you in person, your
Council meeting conflicts with the Board meeting for ArtsObispo. I was
named to that board in August, and we taking on some huge tasks to
bring ArtsObispo into solid vibrancy, blooming it into the arts agency that
this growing, yearning County deserves.
I am firmly not in favor of the outright ban on sculptures bearing the
likeness of specific individuals. How will we commemorate Mayor Heidi's
contributions if no statue is allowed? Seriously, ( No offense, Heidi ), this
seems like a rather insensitive, ham fisted response, closing off an entire
avenue of public expression because of the controversy surrounding one
proposal. I can't think of anyone offhand, perhaps excepting Greta
Thurnberg, that I personally might consider for that particular
commemoration, which doesn't mean that we should cavalierly close off
that possibility permanently. It seems an odd thing for this City
Administration, whose proactive actions are widely endorsed, to even
consider this blanket ban on a form of free speech.
Thank you for your consideration,
Allen Root
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