Before and after photographs of the crosswalk in front of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in August 2025. (Photo: Florida Phoenix, with permission of Ryan Anderson)
David Silverberg, candidate for the Florida state Senate in District 28, pledged today that if elected he will introduce a bill called the “Colorful Crosswalks Act.”
“There’s no reason that communities can’t show their pride with multiple colors in their crosswalks as long as it’s compatible with public safety,” said Silverberg. “My Colorful Crosswalks Act will make that possible and spell out the details.”
Background: Last year Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Department of Transportation prohibited all “surface art” at Florida intersections, a form of expression that had been permitted since 2017. In August and September 2025 state workers began painting over multicolored crosswalks across Florida despite protests and resistance from residents and city governments. This included a multicolored crosswalk in Orlando honoring the victims of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting.
“The prohibition of colorful crosswalks was a petty and intrusive act of overreach by what I call ‘Big Tallahassee,’” stated Silverberg. “It was yet another attempt to stamp out freedom of expression by this governor and his cohorts and suppress home rule. If elected I intend to do all I can to encourage freedom of expression and community pride, not suppress it.”
Silverberg is running to represent the 28th Senate District of Florida, which includes Collier and Hendry counties and Lee County east of Route 75.
Silverberg is a Naples resident and retired journalist.
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© 2026 by David Silverberg