2007.11.07: November 7, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Politics: Congress: The Californian: Sam Farr writes: Let beauty, not billboards, speak for us

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Colombia: Special Report: Sam Farr: Sam Farr: Newest Stories: 2007.11.07: November 7, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Politics: Congress: The Californian: Sam Farr writes: Let beauty, not billboards, speak for us

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Sam Farr writes: Let beauty, not billboards, speak for us

Sam Farr writes: Let beauty, not billboards, speak for us

"I am adamantly opposed to rules that allow our roadways to be cluttered with billboards, advertisements and other signs not related to safe travel. Anything other than traffic signs is "eye acne" and should be completely banned. California's most valuable asset - and especially that of the Central Coast - is its unmatched beautiful land and seascapes. I see no reason to deface these viewsheds with tacky billboards screaming about the next hamburger joint. If we want people to linger as they mosey across our county roads, it will be the beauty of the scenery that makes them stop to enjoy it longer - not the announcement of local DJs hosting a radio morning show. Billboards are another form of pollution along our highways - same as the litter that gathers along the shoulder. It is hard to believe that billboards will bring in such great revenue that county coffers cannot survive without them. It is doubly hard to believe that tourist destinations, which do well now on their hard-earned reputations, will suffer a death blow without a gaudy billboard every two miles announcing their approach. Our local tourism industry, of which there is no stronger supporter than I, is dependent on clean vistas and an appealing environment. Both would be destroyed by the introduction of billboards." Congressman Sam Farr of California served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia in the 1960's.

Sam Farr writes: Let beauty, not billboards, speak for us

Let beauty, not billboards, speak for us
By SAM FARR

A recent article in The Salinas Californian reported that the Monterey County Planning Commission was leaning against new rules to ban new billboards and had delayed a final decision because the commission desired more public input.

Please consider this letter "more public input."

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I am adamantly opposed to rules that allow our roadways to be cluttered with billboards, advertisements and other signs not related to safe travel.

Anything other than traffic signs is "eye acne" and should be completely banned.

California's most valuable asset - and especially that of the Central Coast - is its unmatched beautiful land and seascapes.

I see no reason to deface these viewsheds with tacky billboards screaming about the next hamburger joint.

If we want people to linger as they mosey across our county roads, it will be the beauty of the scenery that makes them stop to enjoy it longer - not the announcement of local DJs hosting a radio morning show.

Billboards are another form of pollution along our highways - same as the litter that gathers along the shoulder. It is hard to believe that billboards will bring in such great revenue that county coffers cannot survive without them.

It is doubly hard to believe that tourist destinations, which do well now on their hard-earned reputations, will suffer a death blow without a gaudy billboard every two miles announcing their approach.

Our local tourism industry, of which there is no stronger supporter than I, is dependent on clean vistas and an appealing environment. Both would be destroyed by the introduction of billboards.

It was just this week that a federal appeals court upheld Oakland's ban on new commercial billboards near freeways and its restrictions on commercial signs elsewhere in the city. I urge the Planning Commission to pay heed to this ruling and its potential implications for Monterey County.

My vigorous objection to highway billboards comes not only from my strong defense of the viewshed, but from my family history. My father, the late Sen. Fred Farr, authored the law that became the California Scenic Highway program and later served in the Johnson administration as the National Scenic Highway Beautification director.

His interest began in Monterey, one of the first counties to pass a limit on signs. Planning Director Ed De Mars championed this all the way to the California Supreme Court.

That America's highways are virtually free of distracting and ugly billboards and lined with flowerbeds and trees is greatly thanks to my father. California's highways earn poppy flower signs due to his work to keep crass and trite commercialism off the sides of the road.

I hope you will think hard about the direction you want to take in designing the appearance of Monterey County's highways.

I urge you to be bold and not cave in to the siren of signage. Nothing ever looks as good as what Mother Nature has already provided for us to see.

U.S. REP. SAM FARR, D-Carmel, represents the 17th District in Congress.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2007; RPCV Sam Farr (Colombia); Figures; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; Politics; Congress; California





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Story Source: The Californian

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Colombia; Politics; Congress

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