Another lawsuit is swirling after the Columbus Monument Corporation announced today it strongly opposes the City of Syracuse and the Onondaga Historical Association affiliation over the “Full Circle Design Competition.”
The OHA plans to show the work of three artists from other cities Tuesday night through December and have the public decide what public art will shape Heritage Park adjacent to the statue.
Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro said the competition - and everything leading up to it – is a sham and a charade.
“Disguised to look like it has had public participation. While it clearly is a case of public deception on a major scale,” said Pirro. “Why is it necessary for this community to re-image Columbus Circle in the first place? Cause the former Mayor and OHA’s primely goal has always been to remove the statue and nothing else.”
While in office, former Mayor Ben Walsh announced the Columbus statue would be removed after residents called for its removal on behalf of Native Americans and Indigenous people.
Pirro claims the OHA didn’t seek designs from artists to preserve the statue and says it’s also a federally protected historic district site.
We’ve reached out to the Onondaga Historical Association for comment.
Editor's Note: The OHA is a supporter of WAER.
