As a longtime Escondido artist and community contributor, I care deeply about how our city invests in public art. These funds should strengthen our local creative community by supporting artists who live and work here, ensuring that our public spaces genuinely reflect Escondido’s identity.

The City’s own RFQ for the Roundabout project emphasizes the need for “Authentic Escondido” and “Community Engagement.” These goals are best achieved by artists who are immersed in the daily life of our city and who understand our history, culture, and values from lived experience.

When major public commissions are awarded to out-of-area artists, the investment leaves Escondido rather than circulating within our local economy. More importantly, we lose the opportunity to showcase the creativity and talent that exists right here at home.

To ensure fairness and transparency, I am asking the City of Escondido to provide an additional public presentation specifically for the three Escondido finalist artists. This would allow our community to engage directly with the work and offer meaningful input before a final decision is made.

Public art should reflect the people it represents. By supporting local artists, we strengthen our cultural identity and invest in the future of our own community.

Please join me in asking the City of Escondido to uphold these values by ensuring a fair, transparent process that truly considers our local talent. Sign this petition to support Escondido artists today.