The city of Encinitas is considering what to do with a mosaic of a surfing religious figure that has been placed without permission underneath a railroad trestle.
During Wednesday's City Council meeting, residents urged city leaders to make an exception to the city's anti-ordinance policy, according to our media partners the North County Times.
The stained glass piece depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe mysteriously appeared recently under the train trestle on Encinitas Boulevard between Highway 101 and Vulcan Avenue in Encinitas.
The phrase "Save the Ocean" runs along the side of the mural but no one has claimed responsibility for it as of Wednesday.
Residents who defended the piece asked city leaders to allow the piece to stay for at least 90 days and grant amnesty to the artists, the paper reports.
The mosaic may disappear just as quickly as it came to light, since it is an unauthorized use of public property.
Like all grassroots campaigns, the Surfing Madonna has more than one Facebook page where supporters are asking others to join in the fight to save the artwork.
Local
However, things aren't looking good for their cause.
Although the mosaic may be pretty, it "fits the definition of graffiti," Richard Phillips, Encinitas assistant city manager told the NCTimes.
Read more in the full article here.
NBCSanDiego Facebook users were quick to voice their opinions this morning. When asked if a city's anti-graffiti ordinance should include murals or mosaics like this one, many said no.
"If art is illegal then so is life," Amy Santos Saenz posted.
"The problem is that when the city makes their rules, there is no grey area. It's black or white," Erica Valsez responded. "They'll probably leave it alone just for the sheer fact that it will cost them to remove it and the public outcry, but they would be in their rights to take it down."
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @nbcsandiego or add your comment to our Facebook page.
