Dec 06, 2007 - San Antonio Council Meeting - Passes Digital Billboard Ordinance:
Analysis:
A Summary of What's Wrong with the San Antonio Digital Billboard Ordinance:
- Three Main Reasons: UGLY, UGLY, and UGLY - San Antonio is littered with ugly billboards. Far more than other, major Texan cities. Digital billboards will have an even greater 'UGLY' impact
- Lousy Representation - Again, our city council appears content to sacrifice public good to satisfy private interests and relegate San Antonio into a second tier status among Texan cities. REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS
- Obviously Unsafe - It's simply a matter of common sense that digital billboards with changing messages will be more distracting and hence less safe
- There has been no, independent, national study to show digital billboards pose the same or less risk for highway safety
- The San Antonio ordinance requires city staff to provide a "report" to city council about safety, but we can be confident that this "report" will be superficial and unscientific
- Lousy Deal for Citizens - Clear Channel, and the other companies, will get a 'golden handshake' of 300% to 3800% increases in gross revenues:
- These high increases in revenues mean comparable high increases in visual impact on the community
- Returns on investment (ROIs) will be vastly greater than economically necessary to induce trades
- While there's nothing wrong with private profit, windfall profit at the public expense (aka 'corporate enrichment') is unacceptable
- The City of San Antonio has conducted no credible, independent study of billboard economics to support smart negotiations
- Other cities (such as Houston) are achieving better rates of billboard elimination with 'no new billboard' strategies
- Trashy/Indecent Content - Companies and advertisers will have more freedom to flash short duration advertisements with trashy or indecent pictures and messages, than they have with old vinyl signs that are up for weeks or months
- Scenic Protections Gutted - Protection from new billboard construction on scenic and urban corridors (I-10, 1604, 281, etc.) was lifted:
- Given traffic and income patterns, billboard companies will be targeted these corridors for maximum coverage
- Lousy Management Record of City Staff - City staff is not resourced or motivated to manage an exchange program in favor of citizen interests in the short or long run
- Financial Liability - Taxpayers will have much greater financial risk for billboard removal for roadway modifications
- Bad for Business - Sure. Billboards are great for the billboard industry (Clear Channel), but degrade San Antonio's uniqueness, which is a big attraction for tourism. Also they project a low-tech appearance and lower our standing for attracting high tech companies. Light pollution is the major concern for the Army in the Camp Bullis area.
- Other Quality of Life Problems - Besides trashing urban aesthetics, digital billboards will induce noise pollution, light pollution*, etc.
Archive of what happened prior to the last City election (May 09)
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