A South Coast city is set to look at a controversy over whether a statue of Father Junipero Serra should remain in a prominent spot in the community,
The bronze statue has been on an island on California Street in downtown Ventura, in front of Ventura City Hall since 1989. Father Serra is known as one of the founders of California’s historic missions. But, there’s been controversy about the way the settlers treated Native Americans.
City leaders, members of the Chumash tribe, and the pastor at the San Buenaventura Mission developed a proposal to settle the issue, which would involve moving the statue to private property.
The Ventura City Council is scheduled to review the question of whether the monument should be relocated, or removed at a virtual public meeting beginning at Tuesday night.
