With influence comes responsibility for accuracy. A phone call to Vice Mayor Dillard, City Hall, or me asking if La Mesa was about to spend $250,000 on street murals and if they would be politically themed would have yielded a Hell No (at least from me); Dillard and the City would have politely said no.

Because people are outraged at the false reporting that La Mesa is about to spend $250,000 on “street graffiti,” I am setting the record straight.

The City of La Mesa has no plans to spend $250,000 on street murals. Not going to happen.

Also, the City of La Mesa is so averse to political messaging that it has specific rules and ordinances prohibiting private murals. By allowing only public property murals, the City retains control of content. Under no circumstance would the City allow any mural, wall, or crosswalk to be painted for Pride, BLM, MAGA, or any other polarizing themes.

Like cities and municipalities across the country, La Mesa received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to alleviate the economic wreckage of the COVID lockdowns.

Under ARPA rules, the City of La Mesa could have used 100% of the funds to replace lost revenue, provide premium pay for essential workers, and invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, which is how much of the $10.8M was spent.

However, recognizing the struggles of La Mesa’s small business community due to the COVID lockdowns, the City allocated nearly $2M in ARPA funds to help them: La Mesa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (LEAP) which offered hands-on training to local entrepreneurs while successfully filling La Mesa’s empty commercial vacancies and Commercial Façade Improvement Program – grants to improve La Mesa storefronts (painting, lighting, signs, landscaping, doors, windows, etc.).

LEAP gave La Mesa several wonderful new brick-and-mortar businesses, including Bougie’s Cheese Shop, Dr. Pilates, The Jackalope, Flavour Spice & Tea, and others.

The Commercial Façade Improvement Program helped renovate storefronts for numerous La Mesa businesses, including Sheldon’s, MammaMia, Act II, Aromi Italian Cuisine, Helix Brewing Co., La Mesa Flooring, Pink Rose Café, Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Wise Barbershop, and dozens more.

The Façade Program not only helped those businesses improve their curb appeal and increase their revenue but also prettified the surrounding areas—a Win-Win-Win Situation!

Selling real estate for over 23 years has taught me that beautiful homes sell for more than plain or unattractive homes. The Ritz-Carlton charges 10x more than Motel 6. Why? They both offer beds, heating and air, and bathrooms. One invests heavily in beautiful lobbies, rooms, restaurants, lounges, and grounds, and the other does not.

The Jewel of the Hills deserves the beauty and charm public art offers. The more beautiful and unique our city, the better our economy and the more valuable our real estate.

On February 8, 2022, I asked the mayor to co-sponsor this Agenda Item that passed 5:0:

COUNCIL INITIATED Page 5 of 6 13.1. CONSIDERATION OF DIRECTING THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PUBLIC ART SUCH AS MURALS ON PUBLIC AND/OR PRIVATE BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES – MAYOR ARAPOSTATHIS AND COUNCILMEMBER LOTHIAN

Later, as Co-Chair of the ARPA Subcommittee, I saw a perfect, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fund public art in La Mesa with federal grant money, not La Mesa taxpayer money. Staff studied the legality of this purpose, and it fell within ARPA guidelines.

My Co-Chair and the City Council agreed with my proposal. They voted to invest $250,000 in ARPA money to fund local artists beautifying neighborhoods all over our city with murals, possibly crosswalk murals (see Downtown Long Beach’s Aquarium Crosswalk Murals), sculptures, interactive art, gardens, etc.

Let’s not forget that people employed in the arts were also negatively impacted by the shutdown. Let’s also not forget that La Mesa is currently resurfacing miles of streets, filling potholes, removing graffiti, picking up trash, and generally stepping up our game.

Completed murals, as will be the future murals, are beautiful and tasteful. All art projects are brought to the city council – with public input – for a vote.

For years to come, residents and visitors to La Mesa will appreciate the public art brought to our city by the mayor, vice mayor, city council, Arts & Culture Commission and staff.

Laura Lothian

La Mesa City Councilwoman

ARPA Co-Chair

Public Arts Subcommittee Co-Chair