To: The City of Cortland, Mayor Scott Steve, Eric Mulvihill, and the DRI Advisory Committee

We, the undersigned, urge immediate action to restore transparency, adequate funding, and creative collaboration in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) process.

Who is impacted?
Cortland’s creative community—comprising local artists, educators, and cultural advocates—has been directly harmed by the mismanagement of the DRI's public art component. Originally promised $200,000 in funding, artists are now left with only $90,000, with little transparency on how these cuts were made. Those of us who have advocated tirelessly for public art opportunities have faced exclusion, discouragement, and a lack of meaningful dialogue and opportunity for active engagement. Despite offering expertise, ideas, and proven initiatives, such as the Crown City Mural Fest, we are consistently excluded from the process, despite our participation and representation on the Crown City Arts committee.

What is at stake?
If this continues, Cortland will not only lose the chance to build a vibrant, artistically rich downtown, but it also risks erasing the very cultural identity that defines the community. Instead of thoughtful public art, we are faced with the threat of sterile concrete, poor planning, and missed opportunities for local artists to contribute to the city they love. Public art should not be an afterthought—it should be a foundation, as defined in the original DRI proposal.

Why is now the time to act?
The current DRI public art timeline is unrealistic. There has been insufficient public notice and limited opportunity for artists to submit qualifications. If we do not act now, these decisions will be finalized without proper input, and the damage to our city’s cultural fabric may be irreversible. We demand an extension of the qualification deadline and full transparency moving forward.

 
We call for:

• A deadline extension for public art qualifications.
• Full transparency about the DRI art budget and selection process.
• Direct inclusion of local artists and arts advocates in all stages of the process.
• Opportunities and support that reflect the original proposal from the approved DRI grant.

Take Action, Now!

Now is the time to act. The current project timeline is unrealistic, and the notice for public qualifications has been insufficient; the call was not shared with the public, leaving little time for word to reach artists and prompt them to write and submit proposals. We demand an immediate extension to the deadline for public art qualifications and a transparent process moving forward—one that meaningfully includes professional creatives and reflects the public interest. Cortland deserves a downtown that honors its history, showcases its artists, and reflects its community values. Let’s do this right—before it’s too late.

Sign below to support Cortland’s artists and demand a creative, inclusive, and community-centered future that will benefit us all.