City Views Should Not be For Sale

Dear Friends,
The City Council is considering a new comprehensive sign ordinance that governs all billboards and advertising signage in Los Angeles. The Council voted this week to table the ordinance for three months of further consideration.
I have reviewed the proposal carefully and I have some real concerns. I appreciate and admire fine architecture and it concerns me to see beautiful buildings covered up in advertising. To read the City Council file on this issue, click here.
There are two “sign districts” in Los Angeles where large, dramatic signage is permitted: in Hollywood and on 15th St. downtown, adjacent to Interstate-10.
These sign districts work well, but I don’t want them all over the city.
After a great deal of thought, I plan to introduce a motion to restrict any new sign districts to one specific geographic area: the Downtown Center. There are many suitable locations downtown for larger signage. By limiting sign districts to downtown, we can curb visual clutter in other areas of the City.
Furthermore, I cannot support the “Grandfathering of Pending Sign Districts”. Those sign districts that have been approved by the full City Council, should of course be included, even if they are not yet in place.
However, sign districts that are proposed and have NOT gone through the process – such as one in my district at Metro Universal, which has NOT completed the Environmental process and does NOT have project approval - SHOULD NOT BE GRANDFATHERED.
I am holding a press conference on the Spring Street steps of City Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20th. Please join me if you support these motions. I hope to see you there, and as always, continue to enjoy and love Los Angeles.

Tom