CLAY COUNTY — The Acosta Bridge in Jacksonville is famous for its beautiful lighting that displays support through unique colors for the military, football teams, and more. But when it was lit with PRIDE month rainbow colors last week, the lights were temporarily ordered to be removed by the Florida Department of Transportation.

The controversy surrounding this scenario was the lack of details around it: there was no word, at least officially and publicly, as to why the PRIDE colors were removed. It seemed odd, too, because the bridge has displayed color schemes quite similar to rainbows in the past so why was the rainbow removed? Was it a reason due to PRIDE month or was it something else?

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority controls the bridge and its lighting and it said “the FDOT informed the JTA that our scheduled color scheme for the Acosta Bridge is out of compliance with our existing permit” and that “the JTA will comply accordingly.” There’s been no wording as to how it was not in compliance, which is especially odd in light of the fact that very similar color schemes have gone up before.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office, which is the office that leads all state functions including FDOT, assured the rainbow lighting would be back on June 9. We asked Clay Today’s readers what they thought of this entire situation for this week’s Facebook Question of the Week and here’s what they had to say.

“It was a [Department of Transportation] issue only,” Clarise Keegan said. “DeSantis had nothing to do with it. I have family members who work for DOT. Safety was in question. That’s all.”

Teresa Sanday disagreed however and placed blame on the governor.

“I don’t need anyone telling me what I see with my own two eyes,” she said. “Transgender sports ban on the first day of the week [in PRIDE month] and those lights are no more distracting than others. Tampa bridge [had its] colors banned as well. To be honest, they think it’s politically advantageous. This should sink him.”

Penny Ruller responded to Sanday and said, “bless your angry heart,” before she said she believes it was just a permit problem, which others mentioned as well.

“I just don’t understand why it’s a very big deal just to have rainbow colored lights on the bridge at night,” Eric Newcom said. “Not like I think it should be lit up the entire month like that, but there’s no reason why it can’t be lit up a time or two or whatever.”

Sue Ferris replied to the question this week and said that “God created the rainbow” and that she’s “sure he doesn’t care how anyone uses it.”

What do you make of this Acosta Bridge situation? Let us know by responding to last week’s Facebook Question of the Week and be sure to follow the official Clay Today Newspaper Facebook so that you don’t miss next week’s Facebook Question of the Week.