Littering Broadway?
This morning I drove along Automobile Alley and noticed dozens of political signs illegally placed in public flower planters along both sides of Broadway. A reader sent in the following comment:
“I was in Downtown OKC and they had 4 or 5 people sticking signs in EVERYWHERE. I followed them and took pictures of them doing it and asked that they please not put them on city property. Many people have worked hard to clean up our city and the 744 crowd just marches in and decides that they want everyone on the parade route tonight to see their cause.
All of a sudden this guy comes says – “How much are they paying you?” I told him no one is paying me and that I am not on either side. I am just a guy that wants the area to remain looking nice. I pull a sign out and tell him that he is violating the city code that prohibits sign placement on city property. He freaks out and starts videoing me, zooming in on my face and yelling “You are a liar, tell me NOW who you work for and how much they are paying you”. He then pushes me and saying I am a thief and I am stealing his property. I told him that he could pick his sign up at the police station.
Then I I told him lets call the cops and see who is right.
He again demands to know who I am. He yells, “Get out your wallet and show me your ID”. I laugh and told him he is not the boss of me and he can’t make me. I pull out my camera phone and start taking pictures of him. All of a sudden he “Ninja Kicks” my hand and knocks my phone out of my hand. Carrie and the kids are in the car on the street and watched it all. I then take a picture of his car and tag. What is interesting is that both guys were from out of state. One was from Minnesota and the other (Ninja boy) from Tennessee. Hmmmm, so who is getting paid and who is not.
I honestly did not have a dog in the fight. It just pissed me off that they put like 15 signs per block along the parade route. Anyway that is the short version. I know that an organization can’t control every person that works for them but I am NOT IMPRESSED with the Yes for 744 crowd. Take a look today at how many signs are in the medians, really do we need 50 per block.
Actually even one is illegal. I can tell ya how I am voting now.
I thought about filing a complaint with the cops and calling the news but i figure no one cares but my FB friends.”
NOTE: I’m not taking sides on the political message shown on the sign, and it should be noted people running for political offices throughout the spectrum ROUTINELY VIOLATE the law when it comes to these signs.
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Comments
Last I checked the teachers unions did not pay for those planters as a part of the Automobile Alley streetscape. Hopefully they will be removed and thrown away immediately.
Thanks Yes for 744 for trashing one of OKC’s urban assets. And this is coming from someone who already voted yes on 744 on my absentee ballot. Too bad you can’t take back a vote. This is what you get when you hire political operatives to run your campaign. I doubt folks from MN and TN have as much invested in the appearance of beautiful North Broadway as we.
I think that both crowd are guilt of this. I heave heard complaints from Both sides on this.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=163261890364404&set=a.116321511725109.14647.111140298909897
I totally agree that stealing signs or vandalising signs is childish and ridiculous. What completely shocks me about this is the physical assault that sounds like took place. If people can’t follow the law, maybe they should be banned from all sides. Makes our city look crappy anyway.
Scott:
If you’re referring to the author’s action as “stealing signs,” you should note that the signs were there illegally. Removing them is correcting a code violation, not theft.
Careful to jump to conclusions folks. I have seen the people on both sides of this question crying wolf and honestly, it’s getting old. The ads, the articles, the letters and now the signs–enough!
I do agree that political signs are a nuisance and should be done away with.
Don, I don’t care about sign stealing or the politics. People just need to quit littering downtown. Do any of you really think it’s appropriate to be plunking signs into public flower planters? Really?
I agree Steve with the above reference comment……Maybe we should stick the violators heads in the public flower planters and rename them. It would give the whole new meaning to “tack pots”. LOL.
DH405 – no, I was referring to the 744 “volunteer” kicking his phone out of his hand when he started taking pictures of what they were doing.
Steve – I totally agree. Follow the ordinance of where signs can be placed so our city doesn’t look like an advertisement war everywhere you go. I’m for banning all signs both political and companies with hefty fines for those caught putting them along our streets. In today’s age with video, print and internet, there is no need to litter our city with these tacky signs. We get bombarded enough in these other medias.
I agree that signs should be placed properly and this exchange sounds ridiculous, but again, please don’t judge the merits of the state question on this. I’m a frustrated teacher that knows of too many fellow teachers that lack basic resources (books, paper…) to teach. Vote how you want, but don’t cast a vote based on stories like this.
Steve,
I agree that the littering must stop. That is why all political signs should be banned or the fines for them should be enforced.
Also, I agree with ‘grolgar’ that this sounds ridiculous. I stopped believing the comment once I read ‘ninja kicks’.
Even still, the problem is obvious–signs are an eyesore plain and simple.
Just so I am clear – you are basing your decision whether children should receive better education on the fact you are upset over where you saw some signs. Wow. No wonder OK education ranks so low.
Translation of ahardworkingteacher’s comment:
“Just so I am clear, you are basing your decision about a constitutional change based on the fact that those supporting it obviously have little regard for the laws of the land.”
Actually, no… but that isn’t a horrible reason.
I am voting against it because I agree with what Brad Henry said in regards to it,
“I can tell you from experience that if State Question 744 passes, it will absolutely devastate the budget of all other critical areas of the state budget. And we can simply not allow that to happen.”
http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x1560861440/Henry-politicians-oppose-SQ-744
i don’t know which is more tiring; hearing “it’s for the children” when it’s not, it’s about more money for teachers, or hearing people complain about the first amendment being exercised because it doesn’t fit in with their idea of “pretty.”
how many posts have said political signs should be banished, and steve (of all people) started the whole thing? no, signs should NOT be posted on any property without consent, but YES, we should have access to that most basic element of fair and free elections, the right to communicate via flyer or posting.
a pox on them all!
This is why people hate politics. Whoever was putting out the signs was littering our city, breaking the law, and, it appears, being very rude and confrontational to people. Ridiculous. I hope the Yes on 744 campaign takes these signs down immediately and disavows this kind of stuff in the future.