Rainbow crosswalks

[Emily's Cat]

At two o'clock in the freakin' morning?

Planing of heavily used intersections does usually happen in the middle of the night.

Anyway, it's certainly possible that this is just massive overkill from Abbot, it wouldn't really surprise me. But it would be a ridiculous waste of money if the only purpose were to remove a rainbow crosswalk - there are much easier and more cost-effective ways to accomplish that. It makes me wonder if this might be a bit performative.

 

[AmyStrange]

Planing of heavily used intersections does usually happen in the middle of the night.

Anyway, it's certainly possible that this is just massive overkill from Abbot, it wouldn't really surprise me. But it would be a ridiculous waste of money if the only purpose were to remove a rainbow crosswalk - there are much easier and more cost-effective ways to accomplish that. It makes me wonder if this might be a bit performative.

Abbott actually ordered it done twice. This is the second time (from the article):

Abbott demanded that it and others like it be removed after outcry from conservative activists and state representatives, and now it will soon be removed once again.

 

[Emily's Cat]

Abbott actually ordered it done twice. This is the second time (from the article):

I feel like there's a communication barrier here.

I understand that Abbott ordered the rainbow colors on the crosswalk removed. That's not something I'm challenging.

What I'm questioning is whether Abbott ordered that these particular crosswalks at this particular intersection be removed by digging up several inches of asphalt and resurfacing the entire intersection.

My current suspicion is that this intersection was slated for resurfacing irrespective of Abbott's particular view on optical spectra, and that protesters showing up in the middle of the night to disrupt cold planing was performative. In other words, protesters picked this particular crosswalk to protest at, because it guarantees that they'll 'lose' their protest - because the road is being dug the ◊◊◊◊ up regardless of what color the crosswalk is. And that gives the protestors a 'sympathy vote' when they're pushed back from the area so that normal work can happen.

I don't give a crap about what color crosswalks are, so long as they're visible and don't mess up the service dogs trying to get blind people to the other side safely.

But I am also well aware of how manipulative a whole lot of news and social media is these days, and how very selective a lot of activism can be in order to support their narrative.

 

[AmyStrange]

I feel like there's a communication barrier here.

I understand that Abbott ordered the rainbow colors on the crosswalk removed. That's not something I'm challenging.

What I'm questioning is whether Abbott ordered that these particular crosswalks at this particular intersection be removed by digging up several inches of asphalt and resurfacing the entire intersection.

My current suspicion is that this intersection was slated for resurfacing irrespective of Abbott's particular view on optical spectra, and that protesters showing up in the middle of the night to disrupt cold planing was performative. In other words, protesters picked this particular crosswalk to protest at, because it guarantees that they'll 'lose' their protest - because the road is being dug the ◊◊◊◊ up regardless of what color the crosswalk is. And that gives the protestors a 'sympathy vote' when they're pushed back from the area so that normal work can happen.

I don't give a crap about what color crosswalks are, so long as they're visible and don't mess up the service dogs trying to get blind people to the other side safely.

But I am also well aware of how manipulative a whole lot of news and social media is these days, and how very selective a lot of activism can be in order to support their narrative.

I totally agree that the media can color the news (pun intended, and I even did my college thesis on that very question---got an A on it BTW)*, but it just seems weird that he would have it done twice, and why that particular spot?

I'm sure there are hundreds of places in the city with potholes that need repairing.

Personally, It'll be interesting to see if it gets painted over again (remember, it's already been done twice) and see what happens after that.


*ETA: The biggest tip off are the adjectives and adverbs used.

 

[EHocking]

I mean, it’s not like MAGA administrations have a track record of malicious retaliation on anything they deem “woke” (or at least deemed woke by their unbalanced emperor)

 

[AmyStrange]

Typical crap from DeSatan's maga weirdo sycophants:

Amid street art crackdown, FDOT deleted post touting crosswalks near Pulse
Story by Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel (2025-12-26)

The Florida Department of Transportation deleted its own social media posts praising decorative crosswalks near the Pulse memorial for “enhancing safety” amid a statewide street art crackdown that set off a firestorm of controversy, according to records made public late Tuesday.

(SNIP)

 

[AmyStrange]

Thank god, not everyone in Florida is as evil as DeSatan and his maga weirdo sycophants:

City Installs Rainbow Bike Racks After Pride Mural Is Paved Over
St. Petersburg installed the racks in the Grand Central District after state and federal officials ordered Pride murals removed.
By John Riley on December 16, 2025

The city of St. Petersburg has installed 11 rainbow-colored bike racks in response to the removal of several street murals — including a Pride-themed mural — by the Florida Department of Transportation.

The racks were installed in the Grand Central District at Central Avenue and 25th Street, the former location of one of five murals removed at the direction of federal and state authorities.

The mural at Central Avenue and 25th Street featured colored stripes representing the progressive Pride flag and was located just steps from Ride’em Cowboy, one of the city’s best-known LGBTQ nightclubs and a “safe space” for the community, according to Florida Politics.

(SNIP)


ETA: From what I understand, some other places have gone even further and gotten a little crazy with the idea.

I love it!!!

 

[jadebox]

Here in my county in Florida, crosswalks for trails were painted green. The state painted over them amid the whole rainbow crosswalks brouhaha. Now, the black covering is wearing away and the crosswalks are turning green again.