Plans to place the controversial “Cry Baby Cry” statue on private property in east Tulsa are still in motion, city leaders told the Tulsa Flyer Thursday.
Last month, the Flyer reported the publicly funded statue — once planned alongside a hotel on Riverside Drive near Cry Baby Hill — is now heading to the northeast corner of East 11th Street and South 129th East Avenue along with a new Route 66-themed restaurant.
Then came a Dec. 2 joint town hall with District 5 City Councilor Karen Gilbert and District 3 City Councilor Jackie Dutton. Another newsroom reported the east Tulsa plans were already kaput, starting a flurry on social media — and among city leaders.
“I’ve been on the phone all morning,” said City Councilor Christian Bengel, who represents the area near where the statue would be placed and serves as vice chairman of the city’s Route 66 Commission.
“I’ve been on the phone with the developer, I’ve been on the phone with Councilor Gilbert, and I’ve spoken to the mayor’s office’s communication staff,” Bengel said. “I’m like, ‘what the hell is going on?’”
‘You don’t like it. You don’t want it. It’s still something you own.’
Here’s what happened: The Tuesday night town hall was meant to showcase revitalization efforts in Route 66’s Gateway District in east Tulsa. The event specifically highlighted the opening of William Franklin’s new Decopolis location at 5717 E. 11th St. between Yale and Sheridan.
Gilbert, who represents part of midtown and a portion of Route 66, was later quoted as saying the “cry baby statue was looking for a new home,” which led some to believe plans to place the statue in east Tulsa had “fizzled out.”
The Flyer reached out to Gilbert for clarification and she said her quote was mischaracterized.
In a text message to the Flyer Thursday, Dutton said placement of the statue was not discussed at the event. Dutton’s district covers much of northeast Tulsa, including the property where the statue would be placed, but she declined to comment on the specific location for the statue.
Bengel says he’s confused as to why he was not included in the town hall, despite his position on the Route 66 Commission.
“I’m the one who advocated for us as a city to invest in the centennial for next year,” Bengel said. “I’m not just sitting here as a bystander. So, I’m a little irritated about unnecessary controversy, unnecessary speculation or even conjecture without cause.”
While renderings of the 20-foot statue have faced stark opposition on social media, Bengel says the statue is still city-owned property that should be maintained.
“This whole statue was created on the premise that this hotel would develop. So now, we’ve got to figure out how to maintain this public asset that was paid for with public funding,” Bengel said.
Bengel believes the statue and restaurant will bring new visitors to east Tulsa.
“You don’t like it. You don’t want it. It’s still something you own, so let’s put it somewhere where it’s accessible,” Bengel said. “It’s on Route 66 and part of that is creating roadside attractions for people and helping stand up business by creating traffic. This new joint development at 11th and 129th — that’s exactly what this will do.”
While Bengel says the statue is still headed east, the Tulsa Arts Commission has yet to vote on the new location — a requirement for all public art, according to a city ordinance. The commission’s next meeting is set for 4 p.m. Dec. 8. The agenda does not specifically mention the statue.
“I fully expect all involved to follow the ordinance as it has been laid out for public art,” said Machele Miller Dill, chair of the Tulsa Arts Commission. “It’s clear on what the Arts Commission’s purview is and how any addition or change to public art should be handled.”
Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, says the “Cry Baby Cry” statue fits the aesthetic of America’s highway.
“Route 66 has always been about the quirky and unique, and this statue definitely fits that description,” Martin said.
He says east Tulsa is building momentum with development and hopes the city keeps the ball rolling with the statue and restaurant.
“You have all of these little projects starting to tie things together, and I’m excited for anything that gets people to stay a little longer in Tulsa and see what we have to offer,” Martin said.
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