St. Pete's response to street art ban: rainbows everywhere else
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Some of St. Pete's new rainbows since the DeSantis administration ordered the removal of street art, including the city's rainbow intersection on Central Avenue. Photos: Kathryn Varn/Axios
The rainbow intersection may be gone, but St. Petersburg is more colorful than ever.
Why it matters: In the months since the DeSantis administration ordered the removal of street art across the state, residents and city leaders have doubled down on St. Pete's identity as an inclusive haven.
State of play: Crews last week installed rainbow bike racks as a "symbol of our resolve to not be silenced," Jordan Doyle Walsh, the mayor's chief of staff, wrote in an email to City Council members.
- And residents and business owners have added their own splashes of color to homes and storefronts.
- "Get rid of one and add hundreds!" gay bar Cocktail posted on Instagram below a photo of a rainbow wrap added to the front windows.
Here's a roundup of the colorful sites, mostly in the Grand Central District, where the Progress Pride intersection once greeted drivers.
City bike racks: The new racks at Central Avenue and 25th Street, just west of the blacked-out rainbow intersection, are "only one component of our continued response to the removal of the street murals," Doyle wrote.
- The 11 racks cost a total of about $2,200, paid for via the city's public bike rack program, city spokesperson Samantha Bequer told Axios.
Mini-flag: The flag is tied around a pole just north of the former painted intersection.
Progress Pride flag house: "We can't paint the street, which is so stupid, but we have this blank slate," Chrissy Auger told the Times in September of her decision to paint her house.
- "It's just a sign of solidarity that there's going to be good people out there doing what they can."
Cocktail's window wrap: Inspired by the removal of the Pulse memorial crosswalk in Orlando, the bar began adding the window wraps in August.
- "We will make sure they regret taking our 🌈 because we come back stronger," per an Instagram post.
Ekeko Gallery's storefront: The storefront went from brown to rainbow in October.
Storm drain: Also located at the former Pride intersection, it's a small symbol of resistance.
- The chalk art was part of a community protest shortly after the intersection was painted over.
A pedestrian barricade: Even this sign at 24th Street and Central Avenue was decked out in rainbow colors.
Chad Mize's new mural: The mural tucked in the parking lot of Out of the Closet thrift store features quotes from queer icons like Harvey Milk and Audre Lorde.