Seattle announced today that it will not paint over Central District's rogue Pan African flag themed crosswalks. Instead, city transportation officials will install white reflective tape alongside the crosswalks' horizontal red, green and black stripes, hoping to make it safer. Some residents had said they liked the painting of the crosswalks but were afraid the markings weren't as visible to motorists as standard ones. The install will occur at 2 p.m. today. According to Seattle Department of Transportation officials, Mayor Ed Murray is pulling money for the work from his 2015 budget, which already had some money set aside for a project to honor the Central District's African American roots.
A group called the United Hood Movement took partial responsibility for the act on Facebook, saying that they were confident the painting would give a sense of ownership back to the community.
