Opposing sides weighing deal on Pueblo’s Columbus statue
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- A plan for the Christopher Columbus statue in Pueblo is still in the works.
According to a mediation progress report obtained by KRDO, The Pueblo Chapter of the Sons of Italy and Pueblo's indigenous community agreed on a plan that would include a new multicultural plaza at the site of the Columbus statue. However, the plan still requires approval from the Pueblo City-County Library District and Pueblo City Council.
Pueblo City Council President Dennis Flores and the city-hired mediator Fred Galves told KRDO Thursday both sides agreed on a plan that would keep the bust of Christopher Columbus on Abriendo Avenue, across from the Rawling Library. However, Rita Martinez with Pueblo's indigenous communities says no formal agreement has been made.
Martinez says she has only agreed to continue talks. Beyond that, Martinez says she hasn't agreed to any plans for a multi-cultural plaza just yet.
Galves tells KRDO that's not true, and both sides agreed to many things including a framework to a plan which included the multi-cultural plaza and keeping the monument on Abriendo Avenue.
The mediator says when the mediations concluded the only disagreement left on the table was what to do with the monument of Columbus as the public waited for the plaza. Some wanted the monument covered up, while others did not.
Despite the disagreement on Thursday, the city of Pueblo is moving forward with their plans to potentially build a plaza. Flores says the city is currently drafting an ordinance to form a commission that would oversee finance and construction of the project.
Flores says the plaza's full name would be 'The Pueblo Historical Reconciliation Plaza'. Flores says this is a permanent solution that will also bring the community together and bring an end to the decades-long division.
There is also no formal plan outline on the table just yet. However, Flores believes this plaza or outdoor museum would include the Columbus bust, and statues of historical figures from both the black and indigenous communities.
The Pueblo City-County Library District Board discussed the project at a work session on Tuesday, and are set to formally vote on the proposed plan during their next board meeting on Oct. 22.
The debate over whether the statue should remain or go has become more charged in recent months. Protesters calling for the statue's removal held demonstrations at the statue every Sunday for more than a dozen weeks.
Sometimes, the peaceful protesters were met with counter-protesters, leading to confrontations between the protesters and with police. Law enforcement has been called out to barricade the 100 block of East Abriendo Avenue every Sunday for more than 3 months.
Over the weekend, the bust of Christopher Columbus was vandalized with red paint and tomatoes. Pueblo Police have released surveillance video of the potential person of interest, asking the public's help to identify the individual.
Editor's Note: City Council President Dennis Flores initially told KRDO that both sides had made an agreement. Rita Martinez reached out to us an hour later to say that no formal agreement had been made.
