Save Watsonville George Washington Statue

The Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commission will be meeting to consider the removal of the George Washington statue from the city plaza.

In addition to serving as our country’s first president, George Washington was the man who established the American republic and successfully led the revolutionary army against the British Empire. Washington was a farmer, a businessman, and supported and promoted commerce. After serving as president, he returned to farming.

In 1999, the Watsonville City Council voted unanimously to accept a $100, 000 gift from the Estate of Lloyd F. Alaga for the George Washington Bust and to fix the beautiful water fountain at the Plaza. Mr. Lloyd Alaga, was a Watsonville native of Croatian descent. He also donated $200,000 to the Watsonville Library.

The bust is located in the Watsonville Plaza and is the work of local artist Michelle Armitage http://www.michellearmitage.com/largerworks.html

The statue was dedicated in February of 2001. The plaza is a historical landmark, formed in the late 1800s and is on the National Register of Historical Places.

The Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commission, will be hearing from the public on this issue including all the relevant background, on August 3 at 6:30pm.

The Parks and Recreation Commission meeting link and call in number will be published on the meeting agenda, which you will be able to find at Watsonville City website the Thursday prior to the meeting.

Please sign this petition and contact the Commission and Watsonville City Council members to express your concerns with this effort.

Parks Commission phone Number: 831-768-3240

Their email is: pcs@cityofwatsonville.org

Web address: https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/191/Parks-Recreation-Commission