ICYMI: Guild Hosts Community Meeting on Pride Crosswalks
The Key West Business Guild brought community leaders together to discuss the State’s threat to remove them or face financial reprisals.
Thursday evening, the Key West Business Guild brought together members of the community and Key West City Manager Brian Barroso for an update on where the city stands in regards to the Pride crosswalk debacle.
The City was given an ultimatum to remove its crosswalks at the intersection of Duval and Petronia streets by Wed., Sept. 3 or the FDOT would remove them and bill the City for the cost.
There could also be financial ramifications for state money for the City if it doesn’t comply.
The City has taken a stance that they are doing everything they can in order to save the crosswalks, but when Commissioner Sam Kaufman called for a special meeting on the subject, there crickets.
Because no one co-sponsored the meeting, the City is unable to seek legal relief prior to its own regular meeting on the same day as the FDOT deadline.
The City has, however, retained Ft. Lauderdale attorney Howard DuBosar to represent it at an administrative hearing in Orlando on the same day as the FDOT deadline. DuBosar is handling similar situations for Ft. Lauderdale and Delray Beach.
Key West City Commissioners Kaufman, Aaron Castillo, Donie Lee and Monica Haskell attended.
Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover was ill and did not attend.
Mayor Danise Henriquez and legally beleaguered Commissioner Lisette Cary were no shows as well. It is unclear why they did not attend.
If you would like to see the entire meeting, recorded by the Key West Business Guild, click here.
I think it’s obvious DeSantis and his followers are trying to erase us. Threatening us with funding from the DOT if we don’t do as they say. Well Instead of caving into the fight why don’t we just do the sidewalks in front of Lateda, 801, Bourbon Street, Aqua and any other gay owned businesses. And I mean do the sidewalks upright with big and beautiful rainbows. They might be able to control our roadways but not our sidewalks.