Future of two St. Pete street murals uncertain as leaders respond to new state, federal mandates

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The future of two St. Pete murals, one honoring Black history, the other Pride, is uncertain, as city leaders respond to new state and federal mandates targeting street art.

What we know:

St. Petersburg City Council passed a motion on Thursday to hold a formal discussion next month about how to handle the city’s street art amid growing pressure from state officials. The conversation is in response to a directive from the Florida Department of Transportation requiring municipalities to identify and potentially remove artwork on roadways that may violate federal traffic control guidelines.

That includes two beloved local installations: The "Black History Matters" mural outside the Woodson African American History Museum and the Pride-themed rainbow crosswalk at Ce