City of Cortland Mayor Brian Tobin mentioned at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting that the council is finding ways to restore painted curbs in the city to its natural state.
The painted curbs in the city show support for local law enforcement in the midst of tensions between Black Lives Matter and police officers across the country.
Last September, City Council voted, 5-3, to postpone the Back the Blue mural painting until April of this year, while also mentioning that painted curbs needed to be restored. This came after the council voted, 7-0, last August to allow the mural.
Cortland resident Tom Horton was looking for a “progress report or a plan” as to when the painted curbs will be restored after “giving it to the end of April” to bring forth the topic due to “not hearing anything.”
Here's a photo of blue curbs in the city of Cortland taken on May 5, 2021. (Cortland Voice/File)
“We are looking to bring curbs back into compliance,” Tobin said.
Also, according to Tobin, there is “no timeline as of yet” to when the curbs will be restored.
Alderwoman Katy Silliman (D-2nd Ward) said a few residents expressed their concern for the painted curbs.
Silliman said one resident saw the painted curbs as “graffiti,” with the resident adding to Silliman “if you’re not able to paint on city property, why should you be able to paint on curbs?”
Another resident asked Silliman if the painted curbs at the intersection of Groton and Floral Avenue was handicapped parking and if “parking is allowed there.”
“This is an issue that we need to take care of,” Silliman said. “I know it’s going to be hard for the community for people who painted their curbs because they wanted to support our police department. We can find a way to settle this problem well.”
Alderman Troy Beckwith (D-7th Ward) said a date needs to be set “as soon as possible.”
“We made a decision, we voted on it so it needs to be done now,” he added.
“We have to figure it out and get it resolved,” said alderman Bruce Tytler (D-3rd Ward).
The whole common council meeting can be viewed below. This article's discussion can be viewed staring at 3:03 seconds and it is continued by multiple members of the common council during their ward reports.
