The Sunset District's transition to a car-free Great Highway faced immediate backlash as evidenced by the vandalism of a newly-painted mural within 24 hours of the closure. This initiative followed a contentious debate resulting in voter approval. The act of vandalism, suspected to reflect local opposition, has drawn attention to the divided sentiments surrounding the highway's closure. Reports suggest continued harassment towards artists involved in park projects, illustrating the deep-seated conflicts over the area's transformation. The mural was intended to foster community spirit amidst the changes, despite the ongoing dissent.
"While I do not know why the mural was vandalized -- because the markings were random and unspecific -- it likely had something to do with the closure of the Great Highway, a divisive issue," Fromm said in an interview with KGO.
The artwork is intended as a gift for the neighborhood, regardless of that change. Vandalizing the artwork will have no impact on that voter-approved issue."
According to a press release from car-free advocates Friends of Ocean Beach Park, the mural's artist Emily Fromm has been verbally harassed multiple times.
The Friends of Ocean Beach Park group sure suspects this was the work of car-free opponents, and maybe the Recall Joel Engardio crowd who are so infuriated with the Sunset District's changes.
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