[Durham INC] Veto the Billboard Bill

[Kelly Jarrett]

Tom, et al--
Is there a bill number we should use in our emails?
Kelly

On 6/10/2011 7:57 PM, Tom Miller wrote:
>
> Dear Neighbors:
>
> This week there were really ugly developments in the fight over the 
> billboard bill.  The industry and the sponsors took all the fee 
> provisions out of it.  Under the bill as it is now written, a 
> billboard owner would have to pay nothing to cut a huge swath of trees 
> from the public right of way to "improve" the visibility of his 
> billboard.  The bill would prevent state or local government form 
> being able to prevent this cutting with beautification measures or 
> tree-save ordinances.  North Carolina will become another billboard 
> state like South Carolina or Alabama.  How short sighted.
>
> The sponsors and the industry have refused to consider including 
> language in the bill that expressly preserves a local government's 
> right to regulate the size and placement of billboards within the 
> local jurisdiction.  Without such language, billboards will become the 
> "sacred cow" of laws designed to protect neighborhoods, the 
> environment, and our state's incredible scenic beauty.  The billboard 
> industry is like the "little foxes" of Bible fame.  They want to eat 
> the grapes that belong to everyone and spoil the vineyard.
>
> As the General Assembly session winds down, legislative business 
> becomes frantic.  Committee meetings are held in the evenings with 
> little or no notice.  Changes get made before anyone has a chance to 
> see them, read, them , or object.  It appears that the billboard folks 
> having been waiting for this moment to out-maneuver the opposition.  
> The billboard bill may pass next week and go to Governor Perdue's desk 
> for ratification or veto.
>
> It's hard to believe that this legislation has got this far when polls 
> show that by a four-to-one margin, North Carolinians oppose it!
>
> Here's what you can do:
>
> 1)Email every member of your community's legislative delegation.  It 
> doesn't matter what district you live in, e-mail all the members of 
> the house and senate from your town or county (changing district lines 
> under the current redistricting have all members nervous).  Tell them 
> to vote "NO!" on the billboard bill.  You can get your senate and 
> house members' e-mail addresses at www.ncleg.net 
> <http://www.ncleg.net>.  If you want, e-mail every member of the 
> General Assembly!
>
> Also
>
> 2)Email Governor Perdue's office and ask her to "Veto the billboard 
> bill!"  The governor's e-mail address is /governor.office at nc.gov 
> <mailto:governor.office at nc.gov>./
>
> Visit www.savetheview.org <http://www.savetheview.org> for more 
> information on the billboard bill battle.
>
> Together, NC neighborhoods will make a difference!
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> The InterNeighborhood Council of Durham
>
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