Latest news with #EmilyFromm
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public park site of former Great Highway hit again by graffiti vandals
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco Recreation and Parks said more spray-painted messages were discovered Sunday morning at the site of the former Upper Great Highway — now being revitalized into an oceanfront public park. Why was San Francisco City Hall lit red last week? Officials said the graffiti messages included language opposing the site of the soon-to-be opened park, including 'gentriffy (sic)' and 'Your (sic) bringing trouble….' Officials said the San Franciso Police Department and park rangers responded to the incident. Rangers are increasing their patrols in the area. In November, San Franciscans voted to ban cars for a two-mile radius of the Great Highway and transform it into a public park. On March 15, one day after the highway was permanently closed to car traffic between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, a mural by local artist Emily Fromm at the Judah Street bathroom location was 'heavy vandalized.' 'It's painful to see something meant to uplift the community and celebrate our history be treated with disrespect,' the muralist said in a news release following the incident. Friends of Ocean Beach Park said the recent act of vandalism was removed by Sunday evening thanks to its volunteers and Rec and Parks painters. 'Destructive behavior by a few won't get in the way of our work to make the coast enjoyable and accessible by all,' says Friends of Ocean Beach Park President Lucas Lux. 'There are countless constructive ways to engage in conversations about our city's future, but spray-painting public spaces isn't one of them,' added San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. 'We're focused on creating something beautiful for everyone, and that work will continue.' Friends of Ocean Beach Park said despite the incidents, approximately 4,000 people still head to the area each weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Great Highway mural vandalized and artists harassed, local leaders say
The Brief A mural painted near Ocean Beach was vandalized over the weekend. Within 24 hours of it being vandalized, the artist gathered a large group of volunteers to help restore the piece. Artist Emily Fromm hopes the mural will be completed with a new protective sealant in the coming week. SAN FRANCISCO - A mural on the Great Highway in San Francisco was vandalized late Friday, the same day the area was closed to motorists, according to community members and leaders. In addition to the vandalism, artists working on the mural and other public art were harassed. "It's painful to see something meant to uplift the community and celebrate our history be treated with disrespect," Emily Fromm said. Fromm is a local artist and worked on the mural at the Judah bathroom on the Great Highway. "Vandalism like this doesn't just damage a mural, it undermines the spirit of community that this project is all about. It's my sincere hope that we can turn down the temperature and show our neighbors and local art the respect they deserve," she said. Friends of Ocean Beach Park said they filed a report with park rangers to investigate the vandalism. By Sunday morning, more than a dozen volunteers joined Fromm to help restore the mural that was defaced. "The mural is intended as a gift for the community, and vandalizing my artwork will have no bearing on this voter-approved measure," Fromm told KTVU on Sunday. "I am so grateful for the outpouring of the community support that has greeted this, and I look forward to getting the project back on track with the help of the kind people who have reached out to help." Local perspective Despite disagreeing about the new Oceanfront Park's existence, both its supporters and opponents found common ground, condemning the vandalism. "Vandalizing a beautiful mural to protest a park is a bit like slashing your own tires to complain about traffic. It just doesn't make sense," said San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department's general manager Phil Ginsburg. Among supporters decrying the vandalism was State Sen. Scott Wiener. "This kind of vandalism and harassment has no place in San Francisco," Wiener said, according to the organization. "Attacking artists and volunteers who are bringing this vision to life is shameful. We need to stand up for public art, civil discourse, and the right of every San Franciscan to help shape a more vibrant and inclusive city." On social media, Wiener added that while people have the right to oppose the creation of the park, "vandalism — & particularly defacement of public art & harassment of artists — crosses a line." Prop K opponent Malcom Young also spoke against the defacing of the new mural. "While I did not support Prop K, San Francisco voters as a whole did," Yeung said. "In the face of national developments that are dangerously ignoring or intentionally trying to destroy democratic processes, it's important now more than ever that we as San Franciscans uplift these principles," he added. The backstory The new park is not without controversy. Opponents of the new park have expressed their disdain, saying closure of the Great Highway to cars will push traffic into their neighborhood. A lawsuit has been filed by opponents saying the supporters overstepped the State's authority on how roads are used and that the park plans do not address environmental concerns. Additionally, Supervisor Joel Engardio who represents the district, is facing calls for a recall following his support for the Great Highway closure's to cars. Prop K passed with 54% of voters in favor with shutting down the Great Highway to vehicles. The Source Friends of Ocean Beach Park, State Sen. Scott Wiener, previous KTVU reporting
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mural ‘heavily vandalized' on Great Highway after road closure: ‘It just doesn't make sense'
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A Bay Area artist who created a mural on San Francisco's Great Highway is getting support by community leaders after her artwork was 'heavily vandalized' — one day after the road was closed to cars to make way for a new oceanfront park. Thursday is last day to drive along SF's Great Highway The mural by Emily Fromm that is located at the Judah bathroom on the Great Highway was targeted by vandals Friday night (see photo below). In November, 55 percent of San Franciscans voted yes on Proposition K to permanently ban vehicles from a two-mile stretch of the coastal highway and convert it into a park. On Thursday, the road was closed to vehicles so that the area could be transformed and readied for its opening on April 12. 'It's painful to see something meant to uplift the community and celebrate our history be treated with disrespect,' said muralist Emily Fromm in a news release. 'Public art is vulnerable by nature, because it exists out in the open for everyone to enjoy. But vandalism like this doesn't just damage a mural, it undermines the spirit of community that this project is all about.' Officials with the park said a report was filed with park rangers on Saturday to investigate the incident. Anyone who witnessed the event or has information on the vandalism is urged to contact their nearest law enforcement agency. 'Vandalizing a beautiful mural to protest a park is a bit like slashing your own tires to complain about traffic. It just doesn't make sense,' said Phil Ginsburg, the general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. 'The new oceanfront park belongs to all San Franciscans, regardless of how they voted on Prop K. These murals are beautifying public restrooms and celebrating the history and natural beauty of Ocean Beach,' added Lucas Lux, president of Friends of Ocean Beach Park. It is not clear what led to the incident. Fromm has said that she and other artists had previously faced verbal harassment several times from opponents of the park. 'This kind of vandalism and harassment has no place in San Francisco,' said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). 'Turning the Great Highway into a public park is a visionary project that reflects our city's values: access to open space, community, and imagination. Attacking artists and volunteers who are bringing this vision to life is shameful.' KRON4 reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for comment but did not hear back in time for this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
