As Frank Bogert's widow, I want his statue at Village Green. But the city won't listen

Last year, The Desert Sun's Editorial Board wrote that the Village Green is a “logical spot” for the Frank Bogert statue and stated that “It’s time to move on, metaphorically and literally.”

We wholeheartedly agree. A significant portion of residents on both sides of the statue debate are ready to move on. Unfortunately, it appears the Palm Springs City Council will persist in this manufactured controversy and drag both sides through an unnecessary legal battle that will only further injure the community.

Over the past two months, we’ve attempted to compromise with the city and have proposed the Village Green as a relocation site for the statue. While we vehemently condemn the disingenuous tactics used by the city to justify removing the statue, we certainly understand that it has now been used to symbolize a difficult period in the city’s history and is a pawn in the larger discussion about reparations for Section 14.

Whether the statue’s removal is justified or not, our community is best served by relocation to the Village Green so that the city may focus on addressing critical issues including homelessness, affordable housing and crime.

Unfortunately, the city council has thus far rejected the Village Green as a relocation site, subjecting the community to another lawsuit over a statue. In fact, the council refuses to consider any relocation to public property.

This unreasonable stance contradicts public statements by council members that the statue’s removal is not about "cancel culture" and not meant as a personal attack on Frank.

Ron deHarte, the Human Rights Commission’s chairman who initially spearheaded the city’s efforts on this issue, has admitted that removing the statue is a “political effort made to appease one other group.”

Sadly, such politics have cost our community dearly. Good faith discussions about the complexities surrounding Section 14 would have allowed a chance to learn from history and unite the community. As Human Rights Commission member Terri Andrade stated, the city could have used Section 14 as an “opportunity to bridge differences with education and understanding instead of indicting one individual to appease another group." Indeed, Frank was scapegoated and the community was misled about Section 14 for the sake of the “political effort” referenced by deHarte.

Last week's congenial conversation between Alvin Taylor and Amado Salinas serves as a reassuring reminder that residents can respectfully disagree about the statue and yet shake hands, learn from each other’s experiences and move on amicably.

The city should create an opportunity for such discussions instead of further dividing the community to stubbornly win some political game.

Contrary to the false narrative promoted by the city, the record is clear that Frank cared deeply about the welfare of Section 14 residents.

In 1967, while partnering with leaders of the Black community to seek housing for Section 14 residents, he was quoted as saying, “There is a great demand for low-cost housing for the working force in the city.  Something must be done for them….There were a lot of fine people moved out of Section 14.”

The Desert Sun at the time described Frank as working “tirelessly” to help Section 14 residents and to resolve the unprecedented housing crisis he inherited upon becoming mayor.

Were he alive today, Frank would undoubtedly want the community to move forward. He always put the city’s best interests above all else.

In that spirit, we ask the Palm Springs City Council to kindly relocate the statue to the Village Green and allow the community to move on to more pressing issues.

Negie Bogert lives in Palm Springs and is the widow of Frank Bogert, who was mayor of Palm Springs from 1958 to 1966 and again from 1982 to 1988. They married in 1977.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Frank Bogert widow wants statue at Palm Springs Village Green | Column