Frank Bogert Statue Relocation Sparks Debate Ahead of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission Vote

The statue of former Palm Springs Mayor Frank Bogert is back in the spotlight as the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission prepares to vote on whether it should be relocated, reigniting a long-running debate over how the city confronts its past.

The commission is expected to decide whether the statue should be moved from city storage to a new home near the Palm Springs Historical Society Museum. Supporters of the relocation say placing the statue in a historical context allows the community to openly discuss the city’s full and complex history. Opponents, however, argue that relocating the statue to a prominent location continues to honor a figure they associate with deep harm.

Bogert served as Palm Springs mayor for eight years and is a significant figure in the city’s political history. But for many residents, his legacy is inseparable from Section 14, a one-square-mile area where hundreds of predominantly Native American and Latino residents were displaced during large-scale evictions in the mid-20th century. Critics say Bogart played a leadership role during that period, making any public display of his statue painful for those affected.

The statue originally stood in front of Palm Springs City Hall for decades before being removed amid a broader national reckoning over monuments tied to controversial histories. Since then, the city has kept it in storage while considering permanent options.

Public Arts Commission Chair Gary Armstrong acknowledged the controversy surrounding the statue but emphasized the importance of public art as a tool for education and dialogue. He said the goal is not to erase or sanitize history, but to present it in a way that encourages discussion and understanding.

Section 14 survivor Pearl Devers strongly opposes the relocation, saying that even moving the statue onto private land within the city feels like an insult to those who lost their homes. She argues that placing Bogart in a visible, respected location sends the wrong message about whose stories are being honored.

The Palm Springs Historical Society has expressed willingness to host the statue as part of a broader historical narrative, noting that museums are spaces where difficult history can be examined rather than celebrated.

City officials previously considered three options for the statue: permanent removal, continued storage, or relocation. Storage was chosen as a temporary solution while a long-term decision was debated.

The commission’s vote will determine whether the statue’s next chapter begins at the Historical Society or remains unresolved. NBC Palm Springs will continue to follow the decision and provide updates as the outcome becomes clear.

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