Municipalities that fail to comply within 30 days could lose state or federal road funding and face severed agreements with the Texas Department of Transportation.
SAN ANTONIO — Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to enforce safety guidelines that call for the removal of political and ideological messaging from roadways, which could include the rainbow crosswalk in San Antonio.
“Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways,” Abbott said in a press release. “To keep Texans moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas.”
“I feel it’s completely in the name of politics and it’s in the name of trying to eradicate and erase the history, culture and the existence of the LGBTQ community in any city in Texas,” said James Poindexter, who is with Pride San Antonio.
Poindexter stressed he’s ready for potential legal battles if it means preserving the rainbow crosswalk and Pride Cultural Heritage District that was officially dedicated in June.
“We believe in this crosswalk, we believe in this cultural heritage district and I think that we’re prepared to defend it if that’s what it’s going to take, if that’s the word that we need to use,” Poindexter said. “It symbolizes a safe place, a place that people can know that they can call home and that this whole district is welcoming to the LGBTQ community from all of the welcoming businesses that are here. San Antonio College, very welcoming.”
John Barker, who owns businesses in the Pride Cultural Heritage District, isn’t surprised by the governor’s directive. He said removal of the rainbow crosswalk would be a huge step backwards.
“It’s very disappointing that something that is harmless that is meant to unify a city, community is being used to just further divide,” Barker said.
Marc Williams, TxDOT executive director, sent a letter to city and county officials on Wednesday, reaffirming Abbott’s announcement and cited the federal SAFE ROADS Initiative as grounds for the need to enforce the rules.
According to the letter, local jurisdictions must “remedy any non-compliant installations within 30 days.”
Municipalities that fail to comply could have state or federal funding withheld in addition to local TxDOT agreements being suspended.
KENS 5 reached out to the City of San Antonio for a statement in response to the governor’s directive. There’s been no response as of 10 p.m. on Wednesday.