Covina City Council To Decide Fate Of Giant Olmec Head
COVINA (CBS) — A Covina lawmaker is leading an effort for a seven-ton head that was on display in front of the police station for decades to be rescued from the junkyard.
KNX 1070's John Brooks reports Councilman Bob Low wants the Olmec head carving to be reinstalled in a prominent place.
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The replica was a gift from Covina's former sister city Jalapa in Mexico in 1989, but was removed in December to make way for a memorial to fallen police officers.
Since then, the 7-ton head has been relegated to laying in a pile of sand in the maintenance yard and destined for relocation in a park on Garvey Street.
"The proposal is that it be relocated to a place called Jalapa Park in the most obscure part of the city," said Low.
Low said such a move would be disrespectful — which is why he's pushing for the council to reconsider and vote tomorrow night to instead put the Olmec head in front of the Covina library.
"They ripped it out without any notice, without any public hearing, it was removed and hauled to the city yard," said Low, who is also the city's former mayor.
The Duarte chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens has called on the City Council to give the head a prominent location.
Low believes the head from the Olmecs — who were the first literate people in North America — would be a unique tool to teach citizens about the civilization from 400 BC.
The City Council plans to discuss possible locations including a park and city library at Tuesday's meeting.
