[Durham INC] Pls send short email by Wed (industry sprinklingaround $100 checks; replacing gun show billboards with PSAs for stray pets)

[Kelly Jarrett]

I oppose electronic billboards. They are visual blight, IMHO, and I 
encourage our elected officials to resist changing our current billboard 
ordinances.

And lets be clear, there is no groundswell of Durham citizen support 
asking to bring electronic billboards here. This is entirely generated 
by the billboard industry and is a big potential moneymaker for them 
with very little return for Durham.

And in these days, people are far more likely to rely on websites and to 
access current information about events, Bulls games, DPAC events, etc 
on computers, facebook and iphones than they are to rely on a billboard 
for it. I think billboards are a relic of the past.

Kelly J

M. W. Shiflett - Hotmail wrote:
> At the risk of being flamed.....
>
> There are some legitimate reasons for us to look at the options available
> during these billboard discussions.
>
> The first of which is the potential of getting rid of the old dilapidated
> and 'Fugly' billboards that are in and around (or shining into) our
> neighborhoods removed rather than waiting a few hundred years for them to
> eventually be taken down by their owners (consequence of the current
> ordinance).
>
> By allowing replacements to be positioned very carefully into 
> locations that
> do not shine into peoples homes, places of worship, parks, schools etc 
> (or
> within line site of them) there's a possibility to get rid of a number of
> these olds one and bring in a few new modern ones away from these 
> sensitive
> areas.
>
> These 'new' billboards are more efficient than the old ones (less
> maintenance) and there are provisions in the wording of the ordinance 
> (from
> what I understand) that includes opportunities for charities and 
> non-profits
> to get advertising space that is sorely needed in these financially 
> strapped
> times.
>
> As an advantage to people who like the Bulls, DPAC or other Durham
> venues.....opportunities might exist for them to provide timely and up to
> date schedules of events or special notices that would NOT be as cost
> effective for them in the past.   How good is a billboard that advertises
> the Color Purple two days after it's last presentation in Durham or a
> Championship Game at the DBAC  after it's already has been played?
>
> You could learn about what's playing this (and every) weekend at the 
> BPAC,
> Carolina and the Man Bites Dog Theatre along with local events all on one
> billboard over the course of a few minutes.
>
> I see these as distinct advantages.
>
> But let's be clear about this........Electronic Billboards are NOT 
> FLASHING
> or blinking in their messages as some have portrayed them.  The messages
> 'switch' almost instantaneously from one message to another.   And 
> from what
> I understand their 'illumination' is calibrated so that they are no more
> 'brighter' or blinding than what's currently in place (high intensity
> lighting vs. LED's), plus there's less of an opportunity for bleeding of
> light out into the atmosphere like you see on some of the older types of
> billboards along our highways.
>
> While a number of people feel that these new electronic billboards are
> distractions,  I don't.
>
> The current ordinance was enacted years before Electronic Billboards 
> were an
> option.  It might be worth looking at every faucet of the advantages and
> disadvantages of either allowing them or limiting their locations to
> specific criteria and considering the benefits to us as a community 
> before
> taking a position.
>
> For instance, there are advocates for children, the handicapped and crime
> fighting groups that see potential in using electronic billboards for
> 'alerts' that are much more meaningful than 'call 411 for more 
> information'.
> Situations where a kid is abducted or a disoriented senior lost are 
> just two
> examples.  Emergencies or a potentially dangerous situations that 
> electronic
> message boards will help get out the message faster (with pictures) than
> what's available now is definitely something that's a plus that is not 
> and
> can not be duplicated any other way.
>
> Do we want to pass up the opportunity to talk about them first?
>
>
> Mike Shiflett
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Schelp" <bwatu at yahoo.com>
> To: <inc-list at DurhamINC.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 8:02 AM
> Subject: [Durham INC] Pls send short email by Wed (industry 
> sprinklingaround $100 checks;replacing gun show billboards with PSAs 
> for stray pets)
>
>
>> folks,
>>
>> Bumped into a couple of friends yesterday who said they sent emails 
>> last year and can't believe the billboard industry is back at it. 
>> They asked if they needed to send another?
>>
>> Yes! Industry is counting on citizens to get tired and disengaged. 
>> Kindly send a short, positive note asking officials to "please not 
>> tinker with our successful sign ordinance."
>>
>> You can send email (before March 3) to Council at DurhamNC.Gov, 
>> commissioners at durhamcountync.gov, DurhamPlanningCommission at durhamnc.gov
>>
>> Seeing the recent poll showing 9:1 support in all segments of the 
>> community for Durham's successful billboard ban, industry has been 
>> sprinkling $100 checks on incumbents and quickly replacing its 
>> billboards in East Durham -- for gun shows in Raleigh -- with cute 
>> PSAs for stray pets.
>>
>> --> See letter in today's Herald-Sun (below).
>>
>> On Wednesday, March 3, the Joint City-County Planning Committee is 
>> meeting to decide if we even need to start messing around with 
>> Durham's sign ordinance in the first place. Our current sign 
>> ordinance is a strong and effective measure that doesn't need to be 
>> changed to accommodate a billboard company in Georgia.
>>
>> We don't need to start messing with an ordinance that's worked so 
>> well over the years -- especially since it'll be very difficult to 
>> start changing things without inviting litigation.
>>
>> Please don't let the billboard industry overturn Durham's successful 
>> billboard ban -- to allow big, bright billboards on tall metal 
>> monopoles, blinking more than 10,000 ads/day -- on roadways near our 
>> homes, playgrounds, schools and parks.
>>
>> with many thanks,
>> John
>>
>> ****
>>
>> Letter: Keep billboard ban
>> Herald-Sun, 28 Feb 2010
>>
>> In pressuring elected officials to overturn Durham's successful ban 
>> on billboards, industry is offering free billboard ads to local 
>> non-profits (a common tactic industry uses in other communities).
>>
>> For weeks, a billboard near NC-147 and Alston Avenue advertised a gun 
>> show in Raleigh. The billboard stood less than a mile from two recent 
>> homicides, including one that was a block away.
>>
>> Just in time for elected officials to decide about overturning 
>> Durham's billboard ban, the gun show ad has suddenly been replaced by 
>> a PSA showing cute little stray dogs and cats.
>>
>> Showing excellent journalism, The Herald-Sun reported that lawyers 
>> from the K&L Gates law firm, along with others tied to the billboard 
>> industry, "gave heavily toward the end of the race" for City Council.
>>
>> Several candidates received $100 checks from different attorneys and 
>> associates at K&L Gates.
>>
>> Employees of the Georgia billboard company, trying to overturn 
>> Durham's successful billboard ban, contributed $550 to the 
>> incumbents. The company's manager in Raleigh, gave $250 to City 
>> Council incumbents. Two of his subordinates, a sales manager and an 
>> art director, wrote $100 checks to Council members. Steve Toler, a 
>> local consultant working with the billboard industry, also sent a 
>> $100 check.
>>
>> Let's not start messing with our successful sign ordinance just so a 
>> Georgia company can stick big, bright, blinking electronic billboards 
>> on our roadways -- near our homes, schools and parks.
>>
>> To see video clips of electronic billboards and letters of support 
>> from folks in the Durham community, visit supportdurhambillboardban.com
>>
>> John Schelp
>> Durham
>>
>> ****
>>
>> Letter: Support billboard ban
>> Durham News, 02 December 2009
>>
>> I support Durham's current ban on new billboards, and I'm writing to 
>> urge you to resist the billboard industry's attempt to overturn our 
>> ordinance. Please support the current ban in upcoming votes.
>>
>> The last thing we need is big, bright, blinking billboards on I-85, 
>> 147, 15-501 and 70. These would look trashy, waste energy, and might 
>> very possibly cause safety problems. Most outrageous of all, if 
>> Durham wanted to remove an electronic billboard for any reason in the 
>> future, Durham taxpayers would have to compensate the owners for lost 
>> revenues.
>>
>> When it banned new billboards in 1984, Durham made a statement about 
>> community pride and self-determination. The very small amount of 
>> money these billboards would add to our tax revenues would be vastly 
>> outweighed by the negative message they would send about our 
>> community--that we are a bunch of dumb yokels willing to give up 
>> important community values, such as aesthetics, for next to nothing.
>>
>> Mike Morris
>> Durham
>>
>> ****
>>
>> Letter: Dangerous billboards
>> Herald-Sun, 16 Nov 2009
>>
>> Allowing digital billboards can cost lives. Already, drivers speed 
>> along major corridors using cell phones, texting and even using 
>> computers. It is natural for colorful, moving lights to draw the eye. 
>> That is exactly what an advertiser wants. During this moment of 
>> inattention, a lethal crash may occur.
>>
>> Fairway Outdoor Advertising wants more of these attractions along 
>> corridors including U.S. 15-501, I-85 and the Durham Freeway. Here, 
>> traffic ignores the speed limit, and is ripe for accidents. In 
>> addition to ads, advertisers will display public service 
>> announcements, again distracting drivers.
>>
>> As a much-much older, but used-to-be-teenaged driver, I know the 
>> dangers of distraction on high-speed or even low-speed roads. 
>> Georgia's Fairway Outdoor Advertising should not profit by cluttering 
>> and threatening our area.
>>
>> Burdette Connell
>> Durham
>>
>> ****
>>
>> Letter: Keep billboard ban for better Durham
>> Herald-Sun, 31 Dec 2009
>>
>> The day after the InterNeighborhood Council voted to support Durham's 
>> current ban on billboards, Fairway Advertising's local rep told a 
>> Herald-Sun reporter there wasn't widespread opposition to electronic 
>> billboards.
>>
>> He was wrong. In a Durham Convention & Visitor's Bureau poll, support 
>> for Durham's existing billboard ordinance was nearly 9 to 1 overall 
>> (see results at supportdurhambillboardban.com). It should come as no 
>> surprise someone in advertising is trying to sell us a bill of goods.
>>
>> Support for our successful billboard ban is widespread and strong 
>> across the community. Seeing all this support, industry is trying to 
>> pick off local nonprofits with free PSAs (a common industry tactic). 
>> Does anyone really think it's a good idea to get drivers to take 
>> their eyes off the road so they can be distracted by ads for 
>> cigarette outlets in Burlington -- and PSAs about teenage smoking?
>>
>> If local officials ever wanted to remove an electronic billboard for 
>> any reason, Durham taxpayers would have to compensate billboard 
>> companies for all future lost revenues. For a digital billboard, 
>> flashing more than 10,000 ads/day, that's a lot of money taxpayers 
>> would have to send to a company in another state.
>>
>> As we head into 2010, one certainly hopes no local official would 
>> take such an irresponsible risk with taxpayer money.
>>
>> Keep in mind that the billboard industry lawyers are the same lawyers 
>> suing the county on another matter. If industry lawyers are this 
>> sue-happy now, think what will happen once they overturn Durham's ban 
>> on billboards.
>>
>> John Schelp
>> Durham
>>
>> ****
>>
>> Letter: Tacky billboards
>> Herald-Sun, 20 Nov 2009
>>
>> My husband and I recently spent a week in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which 
>> is highly commercialized.
>>
>> The main street through the town is lined with stores, restaurants, 
>> hotels, and entertainment venues. There is a constant stream of signs 
>> and billboards, but the things that stood out above all else were the 
>> electronic billboards, which were so bright that I felt as if my eyes 
>> had been assaulted.
>>
>> I was struck by how tacky they looked.
>>
>> I would suggest that before our county officials seriously consider 
>> approving digital signs in our area, that they take a good look at 
>> the real things and consider how garish and distracting they really 
>> are. I am enthusiastic about most new technology, but this is 
>> something we are better off without!
>>
>> Ann Rogers
>> Durham
>>
>> ****
>>
>> Letter: Keep electronic billboards out
>> Durham News (N&O), 31 Oct 2009
>>
>> Having just driven back from Watauga County on Sunday evening, 
>> specifically picturesque Blowing Rock, I witnessed one of three 
>> electronic billboards. How unsightly and distracting it was.
>>
>> There on the side of the road, in front of large gray boulders 
>> covered with moss, and surrounded by rhododendrons, was a flashing 
>> sign advertising the stores located at Boone Mall. I've always been 
>> disappointed having to look at the traditional billboards on the side 
>> of the road while driving up 321 from Boone to Blowing Rock. The 
>> electronic billboard reminded me of why I spent the weekend in Ashe 
>> County, adjacent to Watagua, an area not full of homogenous housing 
>> developments and overgrown with strip malls.
>>
>> Let's keep electronic billboards off of Durham's highways. Durham has 
>> too much charm and character to be undermined by these distractions.
>>
>> Myers Sugg
>> Durham
>>
>> ****
>>
>> --> See many more letters of support from the community here... 
>> http://supportdurhambillboardban.com/letters.html
>>
>> ****
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>
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