Have ideas for Rizzo statue? City wants to hear them

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Since everyone is talking about what, if anything, to do with the 10-foot bronze statue of former mayor Frank Rizzo gracing the entrance to the Municipal Services Building, the city has decided to listen.

Should the Rizzo statue come down?

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The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is asking the public to submit suggestions to “Ideas for Rizzo’s Future.” The deadline is Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. (“Frank Ideas” would have been better and shorter. “Big BambiYes or Big BambiNo?” probably a tad esoteric.)

Public submissions will be reviewed by “diverse representatives from the City’s Office of Arts Culture and Creative Economy, Department of Public Property, Managing Director’s Office, Department of Parks and Recreation and the Mayor’s Office,” Mayor Kenney’s office said in a statement. This is not a poll — Philly.com already did one of those — but a chance to hear from citizens to get the best ideas. They will also be treated to some choice language and rants, if their feedback is anything like what we reporters get.

The Administration says it will decide by the end of September whether to remove or relocate the statue, and sculptor Zenos Frudakis will then be given 30 day’s notice of the city’s plans. After that, the Art Commission will host what may go down as the most contentious public hearing over a statue in Philly history to vote on the City’s proposal.

No word if the winning suggestion gets a prize — maybe the statue.

If you want to make a statue suggestion but are afraid of computer hackers taking your great idea, submissions can be mailed or submitted in person to:

Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy
Ideas for Rizzo’s Future
City of Philadelphia
116 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Published: August 24, 2017 — 3:01 AM EDT | Updated: August 24, 2017 — 1:40 PM EDT

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