HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-14-20 Public Comment - H. Barr - regarding rainbow crosswalksFrom:Heidi Barr
To:Agenda
Subject:regarding rainbow crosswalks
Date:Friday, August 14, 2020 9:18:36 AM
To the Board of Supervisors and the City Manager:
I read with interest the story in today's (8/14/20) Chronicle about the new RainbowCrosswalks. I was surprised to see it stated that these crosswalks will be owned and
maintained by the City of Bozeman. While I am certainly not opposed to businesses that choose to fly a rainbow flag or an
American flag or a Montana flag, it seems to me that this is an entirely different situation. Thearticle states the following- "It communicates that Bozeman is a welcoming community and
that we can express that..." The article also quotes City Manager Jeff Mihelich- "This citymust be a place where anyone, regardless of how they identify themselves, is welcomed and
has the opportunity to thrive." Are opposing points of view welcome?
The City of Bozeman just kicked a hornets' nest. This is a First Amendment issue, a legalissue.
May I receive permission to paint a Thin Blue Line crosswalk that will be owned andmaintained by the City of Bozeman? Would support for the police and first responders be
welcome? What if I support the notion that marriage is between one man and one woman?Can I paint a crosswalk expressing that support and will that crosswalk be owned and
maintained by the City of Bozeman? Because if all people should feel welcome in Bozeman,then those disagreeing with the point of view of the rainbow flag should feel welcome as well.
Public spaces owned and maintained by tax dollars are not the place to support specific pointsof view because there are always other points of view, even opposing points of view. How
does this make 'everyone' feel welcome? It seems to me you've chosen to support one point of view and to leave out every other point
of view. How many crosswalks is the city willing to paint, own and maintain? This is virtue signalling, pure and simple, and you've opened a can of worms. Please don't start
this. It will lead us down a dark and very divisive road. One thing I don't welcome inBozeman? Division where there was none.
Heidi Barr 406-561-9777
-- heidi