A permanent public sculpture at the corner of Grand Concourse and Morris Avenue has quickly turned into one of the Bronx’s more heated sidewalk debates. Installed last November, the piece has split the neighborhood: some residents see a tribute to the borough’s resilience, others see an eyesore and are already worried about visible wear. The argument only sharpened this week after national coverage once again spotlighted both the work and its creator’s controversial past.
The monument and where it stands
Phoenix Ladder: Monument to the People of the Bronx is a site-specific work made of terracotta, brick and steel that its creator says honors generations who rebuilt the borough. The sculpture was unveiled on November 8, 2025, at the corner of Grand Concourse and Morris Avenue, according to Hyperallergic. Rodriguez’s gallery materials also describe the work as a gathering space rooted in local histories and activism, per P·P·O·W.
Public money behind the piece
The monument was commissioned through the city’s Percent for Art program, which sets aside 1 percent of eligible capital budgets for public artwork, according to the Mayor’s Office. The New York Post reported that the Department of Cultural Affairs approved a $407,000 budget for the project and that Rodriguez received an $81,400 artist fee, figures that have helped fuel the local backlash. Percent for Art commissions are typically selected by panels that include agency staff, arts professionals and community representatives.
Neighbors split
Some Bronx residents told the New York Post that the work “looks like a piece of junk” and “looks kind of weird,” arguing they would rather see public money go toward day-to-day neighborhood needs. The Post also reported small cracks at the sculpture’s foundation, raising questions about inspection and upkeep. The Department of Cultural Affairs told the paper that public artwork is routinely inspected and that needed maintenance is typically scheduled after winter, while Rodriguez has described the piece as an effort to reclaim what monuments celebrate, per Hyperallergic.
Legal background
Rodriguez drew national attention in May 2023 after video showed her holding a machete to a reporter’s neck. The incident led to menacing and harassment charges, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s case file. Under a conditional plea reached in October 2023 she was ordered into behavioral therapy, and the menacing charge would be withdrawn if she complied with the terms, the Tracker reports.
What now
The installation remains where it is while neighbors and public-art watchers push for clearer vetting and upkeep practices around city-funded works. Supporters argue that Percent for Art is meant to expand public access to site-specific pieces that reflect local histories. Critics counter that the uproar shows there is more work to do on transparency and accountability in deciding who gets commissions, and for how much. For now, maintenance checks and evolving neighborhood opinion will determine whether the sculpture quietly settles into its spot on the Grand Concourse or keeps its status as a Bronx flashpoint.
