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

[Lorisa Seibel]

Mike & Neighbors,
My experience of driving past electronic billboards is very  
distracting and nearly blinding.  I am very opposed to bringing them  
to Durham or any other changes to our billboard ordinance.  The only  
flashing messages on our roads should be emergency signs that are  
already installed.  I hope you will join me in sending a note to our  
representatives.
Lorisa

On Mar 1, 2010, at 3:58 PM, 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
>>
>> ****
>> _______________________________________________
>> Durham INC Mailing List
>> list at durham-inc.org
>> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>
> _______________________________________________
> Durham INC Mailing List
> list at durham-inc.org
> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>