Mural, Mural, on the Wall. A Saga in Two Parts: Part III

I like it.  It's peaceful, and it depicts some of our local birds.  It was nicely done.  It's not at all imposing, and I think the people who will see it the most, especially including the people who live across from it, will be pleased it's there.  Presumably, we'll hear more, including from them, over time.

The mural cost the Village coffers $2000, and that little only because of $500 in private donations from residents.  The last complaint about this was at the Wednesday night, 11/20/13, Commission meeting.  Two of the three Commissioners who raided the Village coffers to pay for the mural, over the unanimous objection of Village residents who expressed themselves, weren't at the meeting, which was for the insignificant purpose of negotiating a contract with our new manager.  What Commissioner would bother to attend a meeting as unimportant as that?  Well, Ross and Anderson did.  And Jacobs came a few minutes late.  So at least there was a quorum.  In fact, a quorum was all there was.

I had a mural painted at my house, on a wall no one can see unless they're at my house, and they stand on the deck in back of the house.  My mural is much more elaborate, much more detailed, much more complicated, and possibly larger in square feet than the mural at the recreation center.  The muralist charged me $1000.  But then again, I didn't say in advance that I had a $5000 budget.

Our mural, the Village's mural at the recreation center, will be unveiled on Friday, November 22, at the 80th anniversary event.  Festivities start at 6:00 PM.  The official unveiling is at 6:30.  If you can stay later, you'll hear a lecture on the history of Biscayne Park at 7:00 and a band concert at 8:00.  Come by and see the mural.  I do think you'll like it.


PS:  Here's a question I didn't ask.  Three Commissioners, Watts, Jacobs, and Cooper, agreed to take most of the cost of the mural from the Village coffers.  This was over the vigorous and persistent objection of every BP resident who voiced an opinion about it.  These three Commissioners were willing to raid the Village coffers and take the entire $2500.  They didn't have to take quite that much, because of private donations totaling about $500.  So the question is, did these three Commissioners have the decency, respect, and consideration to put their money where their mouths were?  Did they themselves contribute privately?  How much did each contribute to the mural?  They did, after all, take our tax money, when we kept pleading with them not to.  Were they at least honorable enough to lighten the load they insisted upon placing on the Village?