Save The Lemon Street Murals on

FULLERTON — Neighbors who lived in the Maple Neighborhood 30 years ago, pleaded with the City Council Tuesday (April 15, 2008) to retain the murals on the Lemon Street pedestrian overpass. The artworks, which depict life in the Mexican-American community between 1940 and 1970, were sanctioned by the city in the late 1970s as a way to combat graffiti on the cement structure that had become a blank canvas for vandalism. ------ Mayor of Fullerton Speaks out on the murals - see link page......


This blog that I am writing has to do with a little bit of politics, but mainly with the Latino community that lives in Fullerton. So to my readers, I promise you this, This WILL BE THE ONLY political subject that I write about. Why, because politics divide people and groups, which is not what I am trying to do here on my website. So let the blog go on.

The topic stands, the FULLERTON murals are at risk due to a comment made by FULLERTON city council member Shawn Nelson which you can hear on my you tube video that I have posted on my on blog. There you can listen to the comments that council member Nelson makes about the Chicano murals and demands for removal right away. Nelson states that these Chicano murals are gang related and shows that FULLERTON supports that kind of activity.

With that said, the strong comments hit the papers quick and made news around the community. As the strong word of mouth grew, some citizens of FULLERTON took it upon themselves to go down to the following city council meeting and defend their murals. The FULLERTON citizens stated that the murals are a part of history, pride for the city, NOT GANG related, a part of heritage, and should not be taken down. There where a total of 5 citizens that stood up for the murals on April 15th, 2008. In response to what they had to say and the education lesson given to the city council, Mayor Sharon Quirk said, “ for sure those murals are not going to be painted out unless we have much more process, and how that terms will be up to our community to have voice to.“

The Fullerton Lemon St. Murals.
Writen By: Sancho

FULLERTON, that would be “ The Town I Live In” located in Orange County, California. Its some what a small town in O.C. which is not shown on all those T.V. shows that you see across America or any where else. FULLERTON, a great place, a respected city, and a town where EVERY citizen that lives in it is proud to be from.

Listen to what the City of Fullerton has to say about the murals on Lemon Street.

Fullerton Councilmember
Shawn Nelson
From Gustavo Arellano OC Weekly Site
SHAWN NELSON EVEN MORE OF A MORON THAN FIRST THOUGHT

April 16, 2008 - Yesterday, we reported on the efforts of Fullerton Councilmember Shawn Nelson to get rid of the historic murals on the Lemon Street overpass just south of Valencia Drive. Today, we came across a YouTube video with footage of the murals and--more crucially--Nelson's unexpurgated remarks. All we can say is--Nelson, you're turning out to be the stupidest city councilmember in Orange County since Dick Nichols. READ MORE

SHAWN NELSON APOLOGIZES--SORT OF

April 18, 2008 - Fullerton City Councilmember Shawn Nelson left a comment on our previous coverage criticizing his suggestion to get rid of the city's historic Lemon Street overpass murals which we're posting in its entirety here:

Gustavo: Not only do I have no disdain for the public but it was the public that asked us to do something about the murals. I have certainly failed to be clear that not all the murals are seen by the neighbors as problematic and, in fact, it maybe a select few items within the murals that they have trouble with. I have no problem admitting I could have chosen my words more carefully. As for the community meeting, I agreed to meet with members of the community, Dr. Richard Ramirez and others. Our Mayor, Sharon Quirk will also be at the meeting that is referenced in Ms. Kennedy's post. With the help of the people in the area I have no doubt that we can accommodate the neighbors that are demanding change. Our own Mayor, a hispanic woman who grew up in the area has indicated to me she has always been offended by the particular mural that has the skull and sunburst look to it stating "come again soon".
READ MORE on Gustavo's OC Weekly site