As a temporary “Black Lives Matter” street mural continues to put Martinez’s discussions about racism in the national spotlight, its City Council on Wednesday approved establishing a citizen task force to help guide the city’s responses to issues of race, gender and equality.
At a special meeting, the City Council also directed the city’s Park, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission to create a more formal process for approving art on the city’s streets.
In addition, it was revealed Wednesday that there are plans for a permanent “Black Lives Matter” artwork on the side of a downtown building. Mayor Rob Schroder said it’s early in the process for that; neither he nor
Councilman Mark Ross would say where it will be, other than in a “prominent, appropriate place.”
The permit for the Black Lives Matter mural painted July 4 on Court Street in front of the Taylor Wakefield Courthouse was fast-tracked through the established process for public art installations, and went through neither the Park, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission nor the City Council.
While City Manager Eric Figueroa and council members said the fast-tracking was appropriate in this instance, especially given that it’s temporary, they recognize more similar requests are sure to come up. City officials said there had never been a request for any sort of street art before in Martinez, and that there is no specific process for it.
While most people calling in to Wednesday’s Zoom council meeting defended the mural and its fast-tracking, others said its approval should mean opposing viewpoints should be given time on the city’s streets.
“It’s a political mural — it has no business on our streets,” one man told the council. “If we can do political messages on Court Street, I can come down and write ‘Make America Great Again,’ how about that, right in front of the other courthouse.”
But council members said they view Black Lives Matter — the message, if not the organization — as a human rights issue, and not a political statement. And Martinez City Attorney Jeff Walter said the city has no obligation to present opposing viewpoints to its own.
Walter said, “A government entity has a right to speak for itself; it is entitled to say what it wishes, and select the views that it wants to express.”
Ross said he had received an email suggesting the city could be sued for not allowing a street mural with a message contrary to Black Lives Matter; Walter said he doesn’t believe such a suit would have merit.
photo credit: Sam Richards
Honest question: Did Martinez have a lot of racial problems before? Or is this mural causing racial problems that previously did not exist. I don’t live there and I have no reason to go there — so I don’t know. Is this is an ongoing problem or a manufactured problem.
@SF
I’ve resided and worked here for the past 20 years. In that time I have not sensed racial problems here. Actually, this little town is a very close knit community where we support each other, rally to make our town a better place to live and often without the help of our elected officials. I feel that our city council members could spend their time and our money on other issues that impact our community.
I lived there for about a decade. It’s most certainly the latter.
It is a manufactured problem. Contra costa county has been fully diversified for over 20 years. There was not an incident that prompted this attention. All races are welcome to coexist in all areas of life. It’s very insulting to the people our community and everyone knows it’s made up agitation. Propped up by local activists posing as city and county employees.
Thank you. That is what I figured is happening in Martinez. Sad – a good community being torn apart by self-serving agitators.
This is a manufactured problem that was brought on by the painting of a political message on our street.
I am 52 years old and went to grade school in Martinez. I graduated high school here too. This is NOT a racist town!!! People who have political aspirations are trying to destroy our city. Talk with any POC who has lived in Martinez for more than 5 years. This is the Truth.
“Real Eyes Realize Real Lies”
I totally agree with this statement
“It’s a political mural — it has no business on our streets,” one man told the council. “If we can do political messages on Court Street, I can come down and write ‘Make America Great Again,’ how about that, right in front of the other courthouse.”
This is a sign of weakness of the Martinez Council bowing to political pressure from the far left.
Maybe they are the far left? (Wolf in sheeps clothing)
Well said!!!
Fine. But, it’s all about equality, right? Therefore, the city must allow a mural for every group in existence.
I enjoy that idea. Okay, I’ll play. One for Indigenous (that would include Alaskans), Brown (anyone counted as Brown, not Black or White), and various Asians who are usually counted as Yellow. Did I miss anyone? We could also have one for Women (regardless of assigned color) and Children (also regardless of assigned color). How about for the different religions? Imagine the uproar over ones for Wickens or atheist.
All of them painted in different colors and we would have some really colorful streets.
Actually the city has no obligation to give equal rights to different groups.
What the City Attorney said is a nearly verbatim recitation of several SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) decisions. Too bad he didn’t bother to indicate the source – seems to be a common problem with the lawyers in public employ, like our current DA. In any case, the issue has been litigated back and forth over many years and is considered closed, regardless of whether you agree with the decision or not.
On the other hand, the citizens who elected this city council have the right to recall some or all of them or at least not to re-elect them. And instead elect a council that will pledge to give equal speech rights to all groups – or to none.
Fortunately, public art and public displays still remain a local prerogative.
Some people in life, will always go out of their way to court trouble.
One person interprets this signage as political, another as human rights, another as a terrorist organization etc. Either way, it’s divides the community. That affects the merchants, the property values, and certainly upcoming elections. Further, it possibly offends other races or creeds who feel they are not being included.
Not much benefit to anyone here. Instead of signage as a token gesture, why not do something that truly helps black people? Job opportunities, housing, education etc. Of course that would require more than a paint roller.
“A government agency has the right to speak for itself …” What is a government agency if not representative of the people it serves? Was there a public hearing on this “mural?” What is City policy on such artwork in the public Right-of-Way? You better have an answer Martinez.
Lol, the Caspar MilqueToast City council & Mayor.
Hopefully they get SUED. I’ll be donating and signing petitions to get these clowns out.
Painting up the City to Represent the 2.53% of the residents…….but Too bad about what the majority wants, they can go pound sand (but keep paying taxes). Sounds like Martinez.
How does the city have money for a task force when they couldn’t even afford to give cops raises less than a few years ago? Where is this money coming from?
The city of martinez must be audited by an independent accounting firm, they have been mismanaging and redirecting funds for years and raising taxes claiming they have no money now all of a sudden they have money for more payroll?
That doesn’t sound right. Audit Martinez.
Here is a link to the most recently completed audit: https://www.cityofmartinez.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=19616
Walter said, “A government entity has a right to speak for itself; it is entitled to say what it wishes, and select the views that it wants to express.”
Um, but this was granting a permit to citizens through a kind of request open to citizens. So it absolutely does implicate the First Amendment-related neutrality stuff.
Believe it or not, granting a permit to private groups to install public art is considered government speech.
What Walter said (without providing proper attribution) is a near verbatim recitation of several Supreme Court decisions. You can look it up here:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/amendment-1/the-government-speech-doctrine
Look for Pleasant Grove City v. Summum
They say it’s a human rights issue and not a political statement. I say it’s the name of a terrorist organization created and funded to dismantle and neuter Police Departments all across the Nation and to wreak havoc with society. If in fact they are correct and I’m wrong then they should also allow other human rights statements to be painted on buildings all over the city. How about “Transgender lives matter” or Latino lives matter” or “Indigenous people lives matter” I predict the residents of Martinez will stand up against this nonsense and load the council chambers when it appears on the agenda. Don’t let Mayor Rob and his liberal cronies get away with this clownery.
Leftists all over the country are riding the tiger and can’t figure out how to get off.
AD
What cities is Jeff Walters referring to when he stated government can say and do whatever it likes? Government in China, North Korea, Iran?
Here in the US government is supposed represent the people, not themselves. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people..”
What an absolute whacko.
Jeff Walters was referring to several Supreme Court decisions about government speech.
And yes, issuing permits to private groups and citizens to install public art and monuments is part of government speech.
SO STUPID! I”m with you GN.
I’m voting all these SOBs out ASAP.
So tired of this crap. You hear me Rob Schroder??????????
I would like to know where all of this racism was coming from. I read the news every day and have for years but I don’t see any racism stories. All I see is Black people killing or robbing anyone of any color. What exactly do they really want. There are no White people out there casing Black neighborhoods.
If this is for human rights, how about putting up a mural for the Uyghurs in China who are persecuted for their beliefs?
The hate-filled flyer that the council used to justify the mural was an obvious hoax.
They should of showed us a noose, a bucket of bleach and a MAGA hat as evidence of a hate crime, because no one is questioning the authenticity of the flyers. And a Jussie Smollet style hate crime would have given them an even louder voice with which to virtue signal.
Of course, the city’s lawyer is going to say they can’t be sued for issues surrounding the mural. But the fact that they lawyered-up for a council meeting suggests otherwise.
The outcome of these cases are largely decided in the court of public opinion. And right now, the conditions are perfect for a political backlash.
Personally, I’d be more than happy to contribute to a GoFundMe to sue the city.
Hate Flyer – See section 6, attachment 1.
https://martinez.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=martinez_011eab68c293faddbc1246116c01fe97.pdf&view=1
Well said … Fearless Spec… would you please send your comment to our city council?
Btw fellow Martinez citizens …Vote this council out!
If it’s Right or Wrong … I feel sorry for the home owners and businesses downtown because they pay taxes and have to deal with uncertainty and this Drama!
“A government entity has a right to speak for itself; it is entitled to say what it wishes, and select the views that it wants to express.”
Of course. And they have a right to erect Confederate monuments (or remove them) or express whatever view they want.
But constituents might express counter views at the ballot box (err, mail in ballot).
This all be a bunch of Bull Crap ! time to end this now. turning a firecracker into a stick of dynamite. never was any big issues in Martinez about racial crap. they just want to create racism. same goes for all the neighboring communities.
Redwood City removed it’s street slogan, because the city wasn’t willing to allow other people the same ability to make street slogans. Out of fairness, Redwood City government decided to have none. Berkeley made one street slogan, and is now planning a second one, leading many residents to ask how many street slogans will there be, and who gets to decide what slogans can be painted and which cannot, and who gets to decide where these slogans are placed?
There are also people who have opinions against slogans of any kind painted on the streets. It’s similar to the utility boxes, and how there are people who would prefer them to be blank and just fade into the background. Some people would just prefer that streets be aesthetically mute surfaces.
Boy since I do not live in Martinez I am happy to watch from afar and see how silly the arguments of the City Attorney and Council members are regarding this not being political. We would never see this happen in Walnut Creek…….or hmm maybe that is coming also……
hopefully the will let us paint make America great again right beside it.
I’ve called Every number listed on the City of Martinez website, nobody answering because they’re All Cowering-in-place.
Answer the phone and quit hiding behind the Police Dispatch.
I want a mural for those of us that leave comments on the internet. We’re an extreme minority, and I say it’s time we fight for our rights. Maybe a few people that have had too many comments deleted can become founders.
Fearless Spectator, right on. You hit the nail on the head.
So where are the other permanent murals for those wishing to have their ethnicity displayed going to be placed ? After all this is about equality, right ?
I see a class action lawsuit on the horizon. At the very least, let’s vote these morons out.
I have lived here 33 years and this is another thing in a long line of dumb actions by the Mayor and the city council. I think somebody had an agenda too, fake flyer, turn it into a big deal, get lots of “attention” for Martinez. Who knows, maybe even to get more customers for their business. This made national and international news, all negative press for our city. I hope everyone votes all of them OUT but nobody seems to want to run, so my guess is we will be stuck with them yet again. Pictures of them on Joe DiMaggio’s boat up in Tahoe, living it up. Getting swindled by the Clippers owners. Amphitheater full of drug dealers. It’s just sad and embarrassing. If Martinez were so racist you would think some of the hundreds of black court and county workers might have noticed before now.
oh and yeah redwood city provided the paint for that propaganda on the street at all the tax payers expense
boy if i was a resident there i would be suing the city and having people fired for using my money for a political slogan to be painted on the street without my permission
also for not allowing there to be a counter slogan implies bias and disenfranchised tactics at a public office …where are the lawyers ….????
this is what you dem voters wanted …complete chaos for your families and others …for shame on you …..
your destroying america from within as communist russia and china and iran cheer and laugh at you for being well anti american …and protected under our laws ….seems there should be laws against rioters having rights
as law abiding citizens
VOTE THEM OUT!!!
As with the erection of monuments and memorials the important question is whether it has a unifying effect or not. Intent is less important and similarly the creators do not get to define the meaning. Will the proposed permanent mural unify the community? It doesn’t sound like it.
Citizens of Martinez, remember these copy cat knee jerk liberals when voting for city council members in future elections. Given covid budget shortfall the city is facing how does council justify additional Policing costs and overtime ?
Not to mention lawsuits from folks wanting equal “mural” representation, say a MAGA 2020 street mural or the ultimate sacrilege, Trump is President.
STOP electing liberals and this lunacy will dissipate.
Follow up after reviewing news sites.
A conservative women’s group has sued NY city mayor
de blasio and city’s Department of Transportation for not allowing their street mural.
You would think the city council would have learned.
enough mtz lawsuits and the city council and fake mayor would get the boot
or at least any real city who cares about their city would boot them ….
so we shall see how real mtz is or if their fake news
Traffic info signs should only be painted on the streets.
You would think the mayor & city council woud know this. Common sense!
So I’m going to get a permit so I can paint
JEWISH LIVES MATTER
JLM, JLM, JLM, JLM, JLM, JLM.
The permanent murals should be painted only in front of the mayor’s and council members’ homes.
Agree