Opinion: Oversized H1 School Bond Campaign Signs Are Garish and Trashy
Today, I encountered several extremely over-sized campaign signs promoting the latest excursion into the pockets of Piedmont’s taxpayers, Measure H1 on the November 8 election ballot. I was overwhelmed by the size (about six feet tall) and their garish appearance.
I thought there was a limit to the size of such signs; but no such luck. The City Clerk informs me that political signs on private property are not subject to such limits that apply to commercial signs. They just must be removed within 10 days following the election.
My question: Will such outlandish signage become commonplace for the future in Piedmont? If it does, those responsible for this trash will be held to never-ending criticism by the citizens of Piedmont!
Appalled Piedmont Resident – George Childs
Editors Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author. PCA does not support or oppose ballot measures.
The signs are garish and tasteless and it is possible that they will negatively impact the cause they are trying to advance. There are a lot of voters that are actually afraid of speaking out against the school measure because of social pressure. No one could be found willing to debate the school bond measure from the “No on H” standpoint and it can’t be that a city eye brow high in lawyers and engineers and accountants agrees on every aspect of this 60 million plus, plus, plus project. Piedmont is a place in the Milky Way Galaxy that can spend years debating the most appropriate and inoffensive and culturally soothing colors of school crossing guard uniforms. There is always a silence before a tidal wave. This silence plus those vulgar signs should be a cause of concern because it doesn’t take a lot to nudge a fence-sitting voter from a maybe position to an emphatic No especially when it will add a grand or two to the family tax bill. Those with children in school are worried about squirrelling away a hundred grand or maybe two for college. Those with children no longer in school, are facing the onslaught of costs associated with retirement and the cost of the care of elderly parents that can easily melt through $60,000.00 a year, or with Alzheimer’s care at Piedmont Gardens, $100,000.00. Those tasteless signs would be more suitable on adorning a used car lot on E14th Street, or as they call it now International Boulevard, hoping a name change will magically hose the blood off the streets.
I am running for City Council and I made up my mind I would never spend one cent on those signs, large or small, that pop up every couple of years. I run to present ideas which people can read on the League of Women Voters’ site, Voters’ Edge. Sunny Bostrom-Fleming
Thank you, Mr. Childs, on behalf of the board, for sharing your thoughts on the H1 signs. As a board, we have publicly endorsed H1, but the campaign decisions are made by the H1 campaign committee. That being said, I can only guess that the decision to use fewer and larger signs was made given the abundance of lawn signs this year for other races, and as a way to differentiate and message. I will share your response with the campaign committee.
Respectfully,
Amal Smith