WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commission at its Monday virtual meeting is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council on the future of the George Washington bust in the City Plaza.
City staff, according to the prepared staff report, is recommending the bust stay in the Plaza and that a “bilingual plaque that outlines a broad historical perspective about George Washington” be added.
It reached that recommendation, the staff report reads, from the feedback it received during a month-long community survey and last week’s virtual town hall.
The City received more than 1,200 responses to the aforementioned survey. Roughly 500 respondents were confirmed by the City as Watsonville residents.
About 60% of respondents wanted the bust to stay and 35% wanted it removed—the rest were indifferent. Responses from Watsonville residents mirrored those of all respondents.
The majority of respondents who want the bust removed said it is a symbol of white supremacy and racism, and that it should not be displayed anywhere. They also said that it does not reflect the values of the community and that President Washington’s support of the genocide of indigenous people and ownership of slaves were also reasons for it to be removed.
Those who want to leave the statue in its place said in the survey that it honors President Washington’s actions that created and improved the country and that it is a reminder of the country’s history that should not be replaced.
The meeting is set to begin at 6pm. To attend the meeting click here.
Part of a $100,000 gift from the Alaga Family Estate as a dying wish of Lloyd F. Alaga, the bust has called the City Plaza home since 2001. The council unanimously approved the gift from Alaga in 1999, using $70,000 to create the bust and the rest to help restore the fountain in the historic park. Alaga also donated $200,000, or 10% of his estate, to the Watsonville Public Library.
For nearly two decades it has sat mostly unnoticed at the park nestled into the center of the city, but debate around the bust began as several monuments to historic figures across the country were removed.
At least three online petitions were circulated—both in favor of and against the bust—prompting City officials to bring the item to the Parks and Recreation Commission in early August.
The City then circulated the survey and held last week’s town hall to release the survey’s results and gather more community input.
