Several municipalities in Florida have received letters from the Florida Department of Transportation demanding that they paint over rainbow crosswalks or face funding cuts. This includes the one outside Orlando's Pulse nightclub.

Miami

Florida has begun removing rainbow crosswalks across the state after a directive from the Trump administration's Department of Transportation. The federal order, aimed at eliminating artwork or political messages deemed distracting to drivers, has led the Florida Department of Transportation to demand municipalities paint over the colorful crosswalks or risk losing funding. 

The removals include high-profile locations such as outside Orlando's Pulse nightclub, a memorial site for the 2017 mass shooting targeting the LGBTQ community. Some officials and residents have criticized the move, citing studies that suggest colorful crosswalks can improve safety. Several cities, including Delray Beach, are resisting the directive and plan to challenge the decision.

Rainbow crosswalks in Florida painted over

Florida has started enforcing a new initiative by the Trump administration's Department of Transportation. Secretary Sean Duffy directed the nation's governors to identify what he called safety improvements, including any political messages or artwork that could be distracting to drivers. CBS's Cristian Benavidez is in Delray Beach, where colorful crosswalks are now in the state's crosshairs. This is one of many rainbow crosswalks across the Sunshine State, Eureka. Several municipalities have received letters from the Florida Department of Transportation demanding they paint over the art or face funding cuts. In Florida, rainbow crosswalks are being removed, including outside Orlando's Pulse nightclub, honoring the 49 people gunned down in the 2017 mass shooting targeting the LGBTQ community. The Florida Department of Transportation, the same agency that first painted the art, erased it. It's sad that they do this because this has been here from day one. Orlando officials say they were not notified. Many other cities have received the order, prompting some, such as Boynton Beach, to remove them voluntarily. This crosswalk, on famed Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, could soon disappear. It's about public safety. It's about uniform standards. State Republican Representative Fabian Basabe has no issues with the removal. I have a lot of groups that want representation. We've got dedicated areas for that. Florida says it's following a new federal directive from the Trump administration to keep crosswalks and intersections free from distractions. Safety can never be used as a cover for intolerance. Alex Fernandez is a Miami Beach city commissioner. It is in fact safer than some of our other crosswalks on Ocean Drive. And that's the irony here. The non-profit Crosswalks to Classrooms creates installations outside Florida schools and senior living communities, meant to reduce risk. Those could also face removal. Betsy Couch is the executive director. Data showed drivers slowed down, compliance improved. In a study, Bloomberg Philanthropies also found colors and designs in intersections decreased crashes by more than 50 percent. There's been loud and swift backlash to the removals. Delray Beach resident Janet Cohen asked commissioners to protect their Pride intersection. It's just a foolish tactic and it's based on nothing but hatred. Back in Orlando, community members used chalk to recreate the Pulse nightclub memorial. In a statement, the state says it's working on a permanent memorial. Several municipalities are pushing back, including here in Delray Beach, where city commissioners voted to defy the DeSantis administration. Jerica, they're planning to attend a hearing on the matter early next month. Christiane Benavides, thank you.

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