I know from experience that it's difficult to prevent enthusiastic volunteers or paid sign crews from placing campaign signs in illegal places (right of ways, for example). But, Locke has so many illegally placed signs, that's it hard to imagine the campaign didn't approve or direct those efforts. Most of them I've seen have been on overpasses, so it's not like it's easy to take a photo of them. I saw three illegal Locke signs today in the space of about one mile. The first one was on that overpass when you are on Navigation heading towards I-10. I think the overpass is Commerce Street. The next one was on a public utility pole on Jensen. Here's a photo of that one:
And, the next one was on an abandoned, boarded up house on Jensen right before you get to I-10.
Of course, Locke could have asked permission of the owner of the abandoned house if he could put his sign up there . . .which would make it legal . . . but, I sort of doubt that. When you get onto I-10, there are more. City of Houston crews take down some of the illegal signs, and it's costing taxpayers money. Do you know of illegal political signs in other locations? Have more details about how many of these have been removed at what cost? Please share.
4 comments:
It's a $500 fine for each occurrence. But the Texas Ethics Commission would probably wuss out and fine him a couple hundred dollars. Nothing else.
But, it costs the city "x" amount of money to take each sign down. That's the figure I'm looking for. Real taxpayer money has already been spent to remove hundreds of Locke's illegal signs.
You know I went in front of city council about this while I was running.
They made a sign ordinance that excluded "political messages" How self serving is that. If an ordinance is made and expected to be followed, it should be for everyone to follow.
I was told that if a sign was seen in an illegal location, to call 311 or I could take it down as well.
The problem I had as well, was signs not only in "right of ways" but signs on vacant buildings that you can't prove if they had permission to be there or not (most likely not).
I compared this to gang graffiti and tagging. It's a blight and criminal when someone else does it, but when candidates/politicians do it, nothing is wrong!
Robert, interesting you should say that - about blight. When I looked online at the City ordinances for a link to the sign laws, I looked under the section on blight - not there!
These Locke signs all over everywhere are definitely visual pollution. Makes you wonder how Locke would respect the laws as Mayor when he won't insist his campaign follows the law.
I guess I should call 311.
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