Phoenix City Council Delays Discussion On BLM Mural

PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council has tabled a discussion on a proposed Black Lives Matter street mural.

The discussion was due to take place during Wednesday's Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation subcommittee meeting but was removed from the agenda following questions of legality. Currently, street art is not allowed in the city of Phoenix.

The proposal is now expected to be discussed in the city council's next executive session, which will not result in a vote and will not be made public. City attorneys will go over legal concerns with council members at the meeting.

"Discussions in executive session are legally required to stay confidential, as such that information cannot be shared," Stephanie Bracken, the city council's senior public information officer, told Patch. "Next steps after executive session are to be determined."

A spokesperson for District 6 Councilman Sal DiCiccio also told Patch that there did not appear to be much support for the proposal, so the sponsor asked that it be moved to executive session.

Councilwoman Debra Stark is one council member who opposes the mural for safety reasons.

"She does not support an initiative that could present a hazard, possibly distracting or confusing drivers, or bringing curious pedestrians onto the street to see the mural," said a spokesperson for Stark, who represents Council District 3.

The street mural currently being proposed by the street mural organizer would include the words "Black Lives Matter" with painted portraits of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., César Estrada Chávez and former U.S. Representative John Robert Lewis. Lewis passed away in July after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer.

If approved, the street art would likely be installed near Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix City Hall or the Arizona State Capitol in downtown Phoenix. Cities like Tucson, Minneapolis and New York City have already installed similar street murals.