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| West County Times Editorial on Sacking of
Old City Hall January 25, 2007 |
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This story seems to be pretty well flushed
out, except for the answers to two questions: Who gave the order to sack City Hall and provided access? What happened to the stuff that was taken? Did it end up as a useful and functional addition to some employee’s City Hall office, or did it get diverted to personal use? I am hoping the city manager and/or the police chief will answer these questions. EDITORIAL Posted on Thu, Jan. 25, 2007 The best of intentions THE MURAL HANGING behind the dais in the Richmond City Council chamber looked too nice not to have been tagged for removal like all the other valuable items in preparation for a major renovation of the civic center. Richmond Fire Battalion Chief Erik Newman was afraid it would get damaged. The city had sent an e-mail to employees inviting them to take anything that wasn't tagged. And Newman was watching in horror as city employees ripped mirrors and pictures off the walls like rioters let loose in the palace of a fallen dictator. So, Newman decided to take matters into his own hands. He gathered a bunch of his fellow firefighters to help him pry the 12-by-20-foot iron and enamel mural from the wall. The plan was to take the mural to the Fire Department Training Center for safe-keeping. While Newman and his friends were deep in their rescue mission, the renovation manager came in. When he saw what they were doing, he had a fit. It appears that the mural Newman and his friends were busy chipping in their efforts to save was worth more than $1 million. The city had commissioned the artwork, titled "The City of Richmond," in 1949. Made by sculptor Sargent Johnson, a prestigious Harlem Renaissance artist, the mural's value had increased 57-fold. City officials aren't sure how much damage Newman and his fellow firefighters caused. The mural is now safely tucked away in a climate-controlled storage facility in Oakland until city officials determine its fate. One can only wonder why such a valuable piece was left sitting out in the open, where it could have easily been defaced or otherwise damaged. Why on earth would the city turn employees loose to pillage in such close proximity to a valuable art piece? Why wasn't it tagged like other valuable items? Newman made a mistake when he took it upon himself to pry the mural off the wall. What he should have done was contact the city manager's office to express his concerns for the mural's safety. But at least he had enough sense to realize that the mural was in harm's way. That's more than can be said for the city administration. |
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