Internal emails and text messages obtained by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay are raising more questions about whether or not the controversial “Back the Blue” mural was officially approved by the City of Tampa.
On Wednesday, August 19, more than two weeks after a public records request was filed by CL, screenshots of text messages and emails between mural organizer and local realtor Kristen Krutz and City of Tampa employees show a glimpse into the mural’s convoluted permitting process, and also allege that Tampa Mayor Jane Castor actually gave the green light to the unpermitted pro-police art project, despite previously denying that she did.
In a July 23 email to Danni Jorgenson, Chief Transportation Planning Engineer at City of Tampa, Krutz claims she sent a letter to Castor on July 16, asking for permission to use private funds from the online Facebook group “Back The Blue Florida” to create the “Back the Blue Mural” on Madison Street, near the 411 Franklin Police Headquarters. The letter was also co-signed by fellow organizers Kelli Campbell and Cassandra Kistler.
In the letter to Castor, Krutz also presented an alternative location of 1710 Tampa St, which is just a couple blocks from a legally-permitted “Unity” mural in Tampa Heights.
“It has come to our attention that you generously allowed, supported and participated in the painting of the ‘black lives matter’ mural in our great city!” wrote Krutz in the letter, adding that she counts on the mayor’s “unbiased support.”
In the same July 23 email, which also included Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Darla Portman, Krutz added that Castor already approved the Franklin mural location two days earlier.
“On Tuesday night mayor Castor called Darla Portman and Reluctantly stated that it could Be on franklin and Madison,” wrote Krutz.
CL contacted Krutz and Portman to verify this claim. Portman has yet to return our request for comment. Krutz did not speak to that claim on record, but did say that she is no longer affiliated with her co-signers Campbell and Kistler.
“I left the [Facebook] group the week after the mural was painted. There are more than 10 back the blue [Facebook] groups. Many in existence for far longer than Cassandra, Audra and Kelli’s group and with 40K more members,” Krutz wrote in an email. “My part in the mural was to show love for people of all colors who show up to genuinely love and protect their city everyday. That’s it.”
In a previous statement to CL, Tampa Police Department spokesperson Jamel Lanee said that her department was told that the “Back the Blue” mural was approved, but when asked who told TPD this information, she replied: "this is all being investigated."
This is especially noteworthy, since last week City of Tampa Marketing and Communications Director Ashley Bauman told CL contributor Josh Holton that during a recent roll call in front of Tampa police officers, Castor did not give specific approval for a “Back the Blue” mural, but did support an “essential worker mural that included first responders.”
“[Castor] said we could do an essential employee mural but never approved nor permitted the BTB,” Bauman wrote in a text message. Bauman did not remember the exact date of the roll call, but added that it was “three weeks ago.”
Bauman has not answered two requests for comment from CL asking if Castor spoke with Portman during the week of July 21, and if permission was granted for the mural on Franklin and Madison.
In another email obtained by CL, Jorgenson told Krutz that she needed to file the application in order for the mural to go through the next step of the approval process.
Later on July 23, Jorgenson sent an email to various city employees, including Bauman, explaining the demands from Krutz and that she'd been informed on how to get the mural approved.
“I let her know that while I can talk to her about the process of doing a mural (permit requirements, liability insurance, paint specification, approval processes at the City), ultimately many at the City would need to review/comment/approve the proposed concept and location,” said Jorgenson.
Also on July 23, Jean Duncan, Administrator of Infrastructure and Mobility, sent an email to Castor informing her of Krutz and the mural, and stated that she would help her complete the project.
“We will work with her and Darla Portman to go through our process for any proposed mural,” wrote Duncan.
In a follow up email, on July 24, Krutz says she had a change.org petition supporting the mural that includes signatures from 75% of TPD. CL also obtained the petition’s list of signatures, but has yet to verify this claim.
The following Monday, July 27, Marley Wilkes, Tampa’s Director of Governmental Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, sent an email to Jorgenson and Duncan noting that Krutz already sent a letter to Castor regarding the mural, and has collected signatures, though “some of these are outside of Tampa.”
Later that afternoon, Krutz emailed Wilkes asking if she was “Approved to paint the mural as submitted?” Wilkes then responded to Krutz and CC’d Jorgenson, informing them that she had received the application, and that the mural had not been approved.
Three days later, on Thursday, July 30, Krutz followed up in another email, but Wilkes again told her that the city is still reviewing the mural application. “As discussed on Monday, we are reviewing the application and will be back in touch with you. Thanks,” wrote Wilkes.
An official application for a mural permit was not included in the public records released to CL on Wednesday.
CL reiterated its August 4 request for the permit application in a follow up email to Jim Crew who is the Public Records Coordinator at the Office of the City Clerk. Crew wrote back to say that, “Regarding your inquiry below, these are all records identified responsive to your request.”
CL also asked Bauman for permission to speak with Jorgenson; Bauman said, “no.”
Finally, on Friday, July 31, Jeffrey Stull, an attorney representing the Police Benevolent Association, sent a formal letter to Castor regarding the mural, saying the mayor has previously “expressed support” for the project, and urged her to speed up the approval process for the “Back the Blue” mural.
“In speaking with Ms. Krutz, I learned that she is frustrated because it is taking so long to obtain approval for her project even though City officials, including you, have expressed support. Ms. Krutz advises me that she believes she complied with all requirements,” wrote Stull. “Indeed, she has advised me that when African American leaders in our community requested the painting of the statement ‘Black Lives Matter’ at the intersection of E. Cass and N. Central, approval was given and the project was completed, both within two days of the request.”
Later that day, Krutz then forwarded the letter to Wilkes, who acknowledged that she received it but also did not say if the application was in fact approved.
“Hey Kristen - thanks for sending to us. I will make sure the appropriate folks see this,” Wilkes wrote before ending the email with “have a nice weekend.”
The next night, August 1, the “Back the Blue” mural was painted without the necessary permit.
Since its inception, the “Back The Blue” mural has been a viral joke for it’s sloppy creation and total inability to read what it even says (“Bork the Blub”).
But more importantly, the mural has transformed into a controversial sticking point for many locals and Black Lives Matter activists, who claim it’s a prime example of the Tampa Police Department picking sides and not enforcing laws equally.
While the “Back the Blue” mural’s organizers have yet to be charged for going through with the project without a permit, as well as illegally shutting down a city street, last week TPD arrested multiple protesters for painting a portion of Curtis Hixon Park park without a permit, and quickly charged them with “criminal mischief.”
TPD also arrested multiple people on multiple occasions for “vandalizing” the “Back the Blue” mural, and has literally attacked protesters for shutting down streets and intersections.
Meanwhile, Mayor Castor has been mostly silent on this issue, releasing just a single statement on Aug. 3.
“Any tribute to honor their service is welcome,” said Castor. “It’s unfortunate they didn’t see the permitting process through so that our community could participate in showing their appreciation for the brave men and women that service our residents every day.”
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