Key West Commissioner Sam Kaufman on State Crackdown on Rainbow Crosswalks

Key West Rainbow Crosswalks and State Law

• 🌈 Key West has the first rainbow crosswalks in Florida, designated as part of a treasured cultural district.
• ⚠️ A new state transportation bill outlaws street art, citing safety and uniformity, which has led to a crackdown on these crosswalks.
• ✉️ Delray Beach received a letter from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) demanding removal of its rainbow mural crosswalks by September 3rd, or the state would remove them at the city's expense.

Legal and Safety Arguments

• ⚖️ Key West's commission is seeking legal options to preserve their rainbow crosswalks, having not yet received a specific letter from FDOT.
• ❓ Commissioner Sam Kaufman argues the crackdown is content-based, not safety-related, as there have been no reported incidents involving the crosswalks.
• 🚗 Despite arguments about potential distractions in larger cities, Key West's crosswalks are considered by their legal counsel to be within FDOT guidelines and not a hindrance to traffic.

Community and State Funding Concerns

• 🤝 Key West's commission voted unanimously to pursue all administrative and legal remedies to maintain the crosswalks, emphasizing they are a symbol of belonging and welcome for millions of visitors.
• 💸 Other cities like Boca Raton have removed their rainbow crosswalks to avoid losing state funding, a consequence explicitly mentioned in the Florida statute.
• 🗣️ Key West believes they are in compliance and has not yet faced direct action from FDOT, but acknowledges the right to a hearing and administrative/legal remedies.

Flooding and Infrastructure in the Keys

• 🌊 Key West has a robust stormwater system with pumping stations that effectively manage flooding, with efforts focused on identifying areas for improvement.
• 🛣️ Raising roads is extremely expensive and will only happen on a limited basis in Key West.
• 🤝 The city emphasizes the importance of working with FDOT on critical infrastructure projects like US-1 to ensure safe travel to Key West.