HomeMy WebLinkAboutNon-Agenda Public CommentRECEIVED
CITY OF PAIR SPRINGS
2022 JUN —8 PH 12: 07
)FFICE OF i {c ""ITY CLi=F
RANK M.BOGERT
June 8,2022.
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
The community and the Bogert family believe it is time and in the best interest of the
City that the statue be relocated. The Bogert family and Friends of Frank Bogert have
listened to public comments regarding the statue location at City Hall and have been
seeking a relocation site that meets the majority of the concerns. We have looked at
public properties, vacant land, and have talked to private property owners. We have
investigated all of the sites suggested by the City and by community members. We have
shared the results of our efforts informally with the Mayor.
The Village Green is the right place to relocate the statue. The Village Green represents
old Palm Springs history, is made up of relocated historic buildings, and its website says
the site "is dedicated to those Native Americans and pioneers who first settled the
area." Frank was an early pioneer who made important contributions to both the city
and to the Agua Caliente Tribe, further justifying his statue at this location. The
following individuals and entities have suggested and/or support relocation to the
Village Green.
• Palm Springs Historical Society
• The Desert Sun Editorial Board
• Members of the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board
• Numerous Section 14 residents
The statue would be setback from South Palm Canyon Drive, shielded from vehicles
traveling on South Palm Canyon Drive by existing buildings and the fountain, and
would be the appropriate historic context for the statue. The scale of the statue fits the
lawn space and by lowering the pedestal and rocks the statue would settle into the
site. The Village Green site satisfies the City's stated goal of removing the statue from
City Hall, while aligning with councilmember's public statements that the statue's
removal is not meant as a personal attack against Frank.
This multi -year debate over the statue has led to a community that is extremely divided
and very misinformed about Section 14's history. The city council has a unique
opportunity to set an example and unite the community over what is a complex topic.
As one HRC commissioner stated, the city should use Section 14 as an "opportunity to
bridge differences with education and understanding instead of indicting one individual
2787 PLAIMOR AVENUE, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 • TELEPHONE 760-327-9349 / FAX 760-325-4675
to appease another group". We propose that a relocation to the Village Green would be
accompanied with educational opportunities for constituents from different parts of the
community to come together to discuss Section 14's history. Placing the statue at the
Village Green recognizes the historical record that there were hardships caused by the
evictions, but that Frank worked "tirelessly' to help Section 14 residents while
simultaneously supporting Tribal sovereignty.
Please consider this a formal request to relocate the Frank Bogert Statue to the Village
Green on behalf of myself, the Bogert Family, and Friends of Frank Bogert. If Frank were
alive today he would want the community to move forward and would agree to relocate
the statue to the Village Green. I would respectfully ask you to consider our request and
come to a compromise for the good of the entire community.