Minutes 1994 0502 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - May 2, 1994 Page - 10 - • PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) Judy Oser, P. 0. Box 21342, Piedmont, Attorney for the Appellant, said the standard of review which should have been used is spelled out in City and State laws. She said the only consideration is welfare of the citizens of San Leandro. She said the General Plan supports civic, ethnic, and cultural activities. She said there have been no traffic accidents at the mural site. She said the fact the mural was painted immediately after the Planning Commission Hearing was a non-issue and the dilatoriness was not on the part of the Applicant but on the part of the City. John Kaplan, 1400 Carpentier Street, said, although the mural is not what he likes to see, he supports it. He said it is not a safety hazard or pornographic but is a matter of free speech. Harold Kitzmann, 13730 East 14th Street, recommended the City Council vote in favor of the mural and waive the violations of the ordinance. Peter Stenstrud, 882 Douglas Drive, a teacher with the Hayward Unified School District, Child Development Program, said the objections to the mural are not based on legality. He said San Francisco is full of murals, and there are no auto accidents at the sites. He felt • objections were based on racism, sexism, and homophobia. He recommended the City let the mural stay and that the City and artists work together to find other areas on which to paint murals. Rick Richards, 335 Peralta Avenue, said he did not find the mural offensive. He did see a problem with the process and with Mrs. Campbell 's violation of the process. He said she should have appealed the denial and worked on having the ordinance changed. He recommended the City Council permit the mural but impose the fees. Saleema DeMarko, 958 Collier Drive, said she participated in the mural , it was a great pleasure to work on, and she regrets it is so controversial . Sterling Kinnel , 3705 Anza Way, said she feels there are people in this community who prefer bland industrial buildings and graffiti . She said when the arts flourish so does business. She said other communities are known for their magnificent art, not for the magnificent ordinances. Daniel DeSoto, 555 Joaquin Avenue, said the mural is something that brings a little life to the City, and Mrs. Campbell should be commended. He said he feels government and officials bend the law when they want to; and, if they get too rigid, they prevent a lot of good things from happening.