Norwalk committee approves Ely Avenue mural contract after heated public comments over selection process and AI concerns

The Norwalk Economic & Community Development Committee on Oct. 9 authorized Mayor Harry W. Rilling to execute a contract with artist Jermaine (Jermaine) West to create a mural on fencing at Ely Avenue for an amount not to exceed $70,000, funded from the MLK grant account, after more than an hour of public comment and discussion about the Arts & Cultural Commission’s selection process.

Why it matters: the Ely Avenue mural is part of a funded MLK Corridor initiative intended to support public art in South Norwalk. Several speakers said the site and artist selection should prioritize residents and reflect the neighborhood’s history. Others urged transparency about how finalists were vetted and how an allegation that an applicant used AI to produce work was handled by the commission.

Public comment and community concerns: more than a dozen commenters spoke during the public participation period. Anna Tabashnik of Fort Gilbert Street urged release of selection records, saying “I recommend that unless the commission can produce a record of the selection committee minutes, scoring comments, the AI screening processes used for all applications and their outcomes, the full public survey results with demographics and all of that… it should be redone.” Several speakers identified themselves as supporters of Jermaine West (also referenced as “Germaine” in public remarks). Aris Dazabal, Melody Reagan (“Sweets”) and Erica DePalma described West’s long-standing local ties and history of community engagement; Erica DePalma said, “He didn’t need AI back then, and he doesn’t need AI now.”

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