Followers of the Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, with a painted depiction of the rock and roll legend’s iconic glasses, will quickly should say goodbye to it. That’ll be a day that may probably make them cry.
Lubbock Metropolis Council members mentioned this week they haven’t any alternative however to take away it, to adjust to a directive from the Trump administration and Republicans to rid the general public roadways of any political messages or art work.
Over the summer season, the U.S. Division of Transportation introduced stricter enforcement of a 2013 rule of the Federal Freeway Administration that mentioned any artwork in crosswalks – aside from sure patterns in earth tones – degraded pedestrian security.
In July, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy despatched letters to governors throughout the nation informing them that federal highway funding can be in danger if states, counties and cities weren’t in compliance.
Metropolis of Lubbock by way of AP
“Roads are for security, not political messages or art work,” Duffy’s assertion mentioned.
Final month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive to the Texas Division of Transportation, ordering the company to “guarantee counties and cities are in compliance with roadway security.”
“Texans count on their taxpayer {dollars} for use correctly, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways,” Abbott mentioned in an announcement.
Laredo, in South Texas, eliminated a mural in October that protested the border wall alongside the southern border with Mexico. In August, Florida officers eliminated a rainbow-colored crosswalk outdoors the Pulse nightclub the place 49 folks have been gunned down.
Lubbock’s crosswalk was first put in in 2020 and is close to the Buddy Holly Middle, a downtown museum with reveals honoring Lubbock’s most well-known native son.
AP 
“It is such a tasteful cross part and folks prefer it. However what do you do?” mentioned Metropolis Council Member Christy Martinez-Garcia, who was amongst these questioning why it needed to go.
Lubbock obtained a letter from the Texas Division of Transportation with “some harsh wording” that threatened the potential lack of state or federal funding for highway tasks if such art work was not eliminated, David Bragg, Lubbock’s interim division director of public works, instructed council members on Tuesday.
“This was very broad letter. I do not suppose it was supposed to go after, say, the Buddy Holly glasses. Sadly, it did,” Bragg mentioned.
Mayor Mark McBrayer mentioned the town had no alternative however to conform.
“In all probability everyone right here acquired some communication from folks wanting that to not be the case,” McBrayer mentioned. “However I do not actually really feel like we’ve got the wherewithal to do something about that with out attempting to litigate it and I do not suppose there’s any urge for food right here anyway.” Bragg mentioned the elimination will occur throughout regular upkeep subsequent 12 months.
Holly was born and raised in Lubbock, situated in northwest Texas. He determined to play rock and roll music after seeing Elvis Presley carry out in 1955. His greatest identified songs embrace “That’ll Be the Day,” ”Rave On” and ” Peggy Sue.”
Holly was solely 22 when he died in a Feb. 3, 1959, aircraft crash close to Clear Lake, Iowa, that additionally killed Ritchie Valens and J.P. “Huge Bopper” Richardson. The three rockers’ deaths have been immortalized in Don McLean’s 1971 music “American Pie,” and have become often called “the day the music died.”
