City says 'surfing Madonna' must go

ENCINITAS, CA The Encinitas City Council on Wednesday voted to remove the stained-glass mosaic that portrays Our Lady of Guadalupe surfing a wave next to the slogan, "Save the Ocean." Guerrilla artists installed the 10-by-10-foot mosaic under a train bridge before Easter.

The San Diego Union-Tribune says the council also approved a $2,000 study to determine how the piece can be removed without damage.

Encinitas is a well-known surfing spot.

Because it didn't have a public review process, the mosaic is legally considered graffiti. Council members say they personally like the piece but allowing it to remain on public property sets a bad precedent.

Some local businesses have offered to give the Madonna a home.