FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. \u2014 The artist behind the colorful crosswalks on Breaker Avenue at Fort Lauderdale Beach says she\u2019s considering legal action after discovering the artwork she created with hundreds of volunteers a decade ago had been painted over.<\/p>\n
Robin Merrill said she was devastated to see the artwork, created in 2016 with a couple hundred people, replaced with gray paint.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the color of their lifeless souls,\u201d Merrill said. \u201cEveryone who did this, that\u2019s the color of their interior. It took away the knife. It took away the color. Why? That represents them. That\u2019s sick. And you know what? We\u2019re coming back. You can\u2019t do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abby Laughlin, owner of 600 Gallery, said she first noticed the changes last weekend and immediately called Merrill.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very surprised to see it change so drastically,\u201d Laughlin said. \u201cIt was a shock to the system. We kind of knew it was coming following the case that was happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Transportation to paint over colorful crosswalks across the state or risk losing state funding.<\/p>\n
Merrill said her artwork predates the LGBTQ rainbow crosswalks that became the focus of the statewide debate. She said the project was part of a Safe Roads program funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese intersections, my designs that I worked very hard to not just beautify, but to create safety,\u201d Merrill said. \u201cI created these designs under a Bloomberg study. These came as number three and number four in the nation in changing accidents involving pedestrians, bicycles and cars. These did their job.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Merrill criticized the state\u2019s actions, she said she\u2019s also frustrated with the City of Fort Lauderdale, accusing city leaders of failing to communicate with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dishonor of not communicating with me,\u201d Merrill said. \u201cThey had a lawsuit against the state for a long time. They never contacted me before or during, and yet they used my data on these intersections in their lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Merrill said she is now preparing a lawsuit against the City of Fort Lauderdale and is also considering legal action against the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I would say is, you made a mistake, own it,\u201d Merrill said. \u201cAnd pay the penalty. And the penalty will be determined by law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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