As Chair of SANDAG and NCTD, Mayor Jerome Stocks, COULD HAVE GOTTEN CONSENSUS to grant a variance, allowing the Surfing Madonna Mosaic to remain where it was. A community member had offered to cover it with strong plexiglass, at the cost of $800, to protect it from damage. Mr. Patterson could have been permitted, after the fact, with the approval of the General public, the Art Director, the Arts Commission and a majority on Council, to keep this beautiful artwork in place, at its original location. But no, Jerome Stocks and Jim Bond are all about “control,” right or wrong, it’s their way “or the highway.”

Unfortunately, in this case, the State has determined the art work cannot be installed on the highway, which they consider under their jurisdiction, as public property. The location under the railroad trestle, on the bridge’s structure is NOT public property, from my understanding, although it is adjacent to a public right of way. We see beautiful pieces of art along freeway walls and along similar structures in other communities.

We’re now left with an ugly piece of cement with mismatched paint, weeds growing nearby, marking the spot where the Mayor and cronies forced the Surfing Madonna to be removed, just as they prohibited Maggie Houlihan’s image to be displayed on the back of the banners, for similarly contrived and mean-spirited reasons.

The Surfing Madonna was labeled “graffiti” even after its creator voluntarily came forward and agreed to pay all costs associated with the consultants, from Los Angeles Council hired to wrongly determine the mosaic could not be safely removed. Maggie’s image was declared, without public input or any hearing to be “political,” even though she is now deceased. Nevertheless, the banners are a beautiful tribute. Thank you, again!