San Diegans Say No to Digital Kiosks
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Through citizen support, Scenic San Diego has worked for over 10 years to defend San Diego’s historic freeze on outdoor advertising. In 2013, we successfully defeated marketing schemes to cover downtown in wraps and digital ads. In 2018, we prevented the blanketing of our waterfront with massive ads and blocked the installation of digital kiosks. As of June 2023, the City has approved a proposal to litter downtown with 75 ad-blaring digital kiosks, opening the door to a hordes of outdoor ads. However, we will continue to fight for the scenic beauty of our region.
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News
How Dangerous is the Area Where La Mesa Seeks to Erect Digital Billboards?
By Miriam Raftery
October 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – On Sept. 27, the La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 to ask staff to prepare a request for proposals to erect electronic billboards along Interstate 8 and potentially, other areas in the city, with only Councilman Jack Shu voting against the proposal. Shu and other opponents argued that these could distract drivers, particularly near the interchange of I-8 and State Route 125. How dangerous is that area already? To find out, East County Magazine obtained public records from California Highway Patrol. We requested data on accidents along I-8 east and west throughout the city of La Mesa from Lake Murray Blvd. on the west to Chase Ave. in El Cajon, since one billboard site would be near the La Mesa/El Cajon boundary. We also asked for data on accidents on onramps connecting I-8 and SR 125. The data reveals that from Jan. 1, 2018 to Oct. 10, 2023, there were 1,805 accidents in those locations. Those accidents resulted in 20 fatalities and 673 injuries. Don Wood, a vocal opponent of the proposed e-billboards, told ECM, “I’m not surprised,” by this data. He added, “There are numerous lane changes in the vicinity merging in that section…so it’s not surprising that we would have many accidents in that stretch. Adding flashing digital billboards showing thousands of different advertisements daily would only add to the confusion and distraction.” Read more.
By Miriam Raftery
October 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – On Sept. 27, the La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 to ask staff to prepare a request for proposals to erect electronic billboards along Interstate 8 and potentially, other areas in the city, with only Councilman Jack Shu voting against the proposal. Shu and other opponents argued that these could distract drivers, particularly near the interchange of I-8 and State Route 125. How dangerous is that area already? To find out, East County Magazine obtained public records from California Highway Patrol. We requested data on accidents along I-8 east and west throughout the city of La Mesa from Lake Murray Blvd. on the west to Chase Ave. in El Cajon, since one billboard site would be near the La Mesa/El Cajon boundary. We also asked for data on accidents on onramps connecting I-8 and SR 125. The data reveals that from Jan. 1, 2018 to Oct. 10, 2023, there were 1,805 accidents in those locations. Those accidents resulted in 20 fatalities and 673 injuries. Don Wood, a vocal opponent of the proposed e-billboards, told ECM, “I’m not surprised,” by this data. He added, “There are numerous lane changes in the vicinity merging in that section…so it’s not surprising that we would have many accidents in that stretch. Adding flashing digital billboards showing thousands of different advertisements daily would only add to the confusion and distraction.” Read more.
La Mesa Revives Heated Debate Over Digital Billboards
By Miriam Raftery
September 28,2023 (La Mesa) – Last night, the La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 to ask staff to prepare a revised RFP (request for proposals) for digital billboards, with Councilman Jack Shu opposed. The action reverses a July 25 vote, when Council rejected a similar proposal by a 3-2 vote. The major difference? The new plan would provide that any revenues the city receives off digital billboards for the first five years would be spent equally on police, fire protection, and the arts, said Councilman Colin Parent, who introduced the revised measure. Several people showed up before the meeting with protest signs, such as “Keep digital billboards out of La Mesa,”. Read more.
By Miriam Raftery
September 28,2023 (La Mesa) – Last night, the La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 to ask staff to prepare a revised RFP (request for proposals) for digital billboards, with Councilman Jack Shu opposed. The action reverses a July 25 vote, when Council rejected a similar proposal by a 3-2 vote. The major difference? The new plan would provide that any revenues the city receives off digital billboards for the first five years would be spent equally on police, fire protection, and the arts, said Councilman Colin Parent, who introduced the revised measure. Several people showed up before the meeting with protest signs, such as “Keep digital billboards out of La Mesa,”. Read more.
City Council Takes 7:2 Vote to Abandon San Diego's Historic Ban on Advertising
Blight Despite receiving hundreds of messages in opposition, the San Diego City Council voted Tuesday, 7:2, to proceed with digital ad kiosks. Thanks to Councilmembers Joe LaCava and Vivian Moreno for voting "No!" Scenic San Diego is hopeful an organization defending the public's best interests will mount a legal challenge to this abandonment of San Diego's historic role fighting outdoor advertising blight. Many thanks to everyone who voiced their opposition. Updates to follow.
Blight Despite receiving hundreds of messages in opposition, the San Diego City Council voted Tuesday, 7:2, to proceed with digital ad kiosks. Thanks to Councilmembers Joe LaCava and Vivian Moreno for voting "No!" Scenic San Diego is hopeful an organization defending the public's best interests will mount a legal challenge to this abandonment of San Diego's historic role fighting outdoor advertising blight. Many thanks to everyone who voiced their opposition. Updates to follow.
A Big Win in the Fight Against Digital Billboards
07/27/23 - Reprinted with permission from "La Mesa Fights Back Against Digital Billboards" by Scenic America. On July 25, the City Council of La Mesa, California, took a significant stand against the installation of dual-sided digital billboards adjacent to Interstate 8 near the interchange with State Route 125. The proposed project by outdoor advertiser Clear Channel Outdoor faced strong opposition from councilmembers and the public alike, resulting in a three-to-two vote against proceeding with the plan. La Mesa activists, Scenic America, and Scenic San Diego mobilized a grassroots advocacy effort in the days leading up to the vote. This effort resulted in a strong showing of opposition, which ultimately led to the City Council’s three-to-two vote to kill the proposal. Read more.
07/27/23 - Reprinted with permission from "La Mesa Fights Back Against Digital Billboards" by Scenic America. On July 25, the City Council of La Mesa, California, took a significant stand against the installation of dual-sided digital billboards adjacent to Interstate 8 near the interchange with State Route 125. The proposed project by outdoor advertiser Clear Channel Outdoor faced strong opposition from councilmembers and the public alike, resulting in a three-to-two vote against proceeding with the plan. La Mesa activists, Scenic America, and Scenic San Diego mobilized a grassroots advocacy effort in the days leading up to the vote. This effort resulted in a strong showing of opposition, which ultimately led to the City Council’s three-to-two vote to kill the proposal. Read more.
Press Release: Scenic America and Scenic San Diego Oppose Approval of Digital Advertising Kiosks
JUNE 7, 2023, WASHINGTON, SAN DIEGO - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Scenic America and Scenic San Diego June 7, 2023. Download this press release (pdf). We are disappointed and disheartened at the San Diego City Council’s 7:1 vote to approve up to 75 new digital advertising kiosks in downtown San Diego yesterday. Labeled “wayfinding kiosks” by supporters, these sidewalk billboards will add visual blight, distraction, and confusion to our scenic community beginning in three years. Not to mention, this program is counter to San Diego’s longstanding outdoor advertising laws, which have kept our community nearly free of such visual pollution for four decades. San Diego was the first to take a case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, establishing its legal authority to limit outdoor advertising clutter in the 1981 case Metromedia v. San Diego. The city then became a nationwide leader when it froze the number of billboards at those existing in 1983. By approving these kiosks, the City Council has opened the door for advertising companies to file for similar exemptions. Read more.
JUNE 7, 2023, WASHINGTON, SAN DIEGO - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Scenic America and Scenic San Diego June 7, 2023. Download this press release (pdf). We are disappointed and disheartened at the San Diego City Council’s 7:1 vote to approve up to 75 new digital advertising kiosks in downtown San Diego yesterday. Labeled “wayfinding kiosks” by supporters, these sidewalk billboards will add visual blight, distraction, and confusion to our scenic community beginning in three years. Not to mention, this program is counter to San Diego’s longstanding outdoor advertising laws, which have kept our community nearly free of such visual pollution for four decades. San Diego was the first to take a case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, establishing its legal authority to limit outdoor advertising clutter in the 1981 case Metromedia v. San Diego. The city then became a nationwide leader when it froze the number of billboards at those existing in 1983. By approving these kiosks, the City Council has opened the door for advertising companies to file for similar exemptions. Read more.
San Diego City Council OKs large downtown digital ad kiosks, despite concerns
6/6/23 - Pam Wilson, leader of a group called Scenic San Diego that opposes outdoor advertising, said the council was making a huge mistake that could be the undoing of city sign regulations that are the envy of other large cities across the nation. She said making an exception for the kiosks opens San Diego up to digital billboards and other intense advertising that is outlawed here but common in Los Angeles, Phoenix and other large cities. “We are a market they are dying to get into,” she said. Wilson also called the deal a “snow job,” contending that proponents’ focus on wayfinding and help with homelessness are a ruse to distract from the kiosks being all about advertising. Read more.
6/6/23 - Pam Wilson, leader of a group called Scenic San Diego that opposes outdoor advertising, said the council was making a huge mistake that could be the undoing of city sign regulations that are the envy of other large cities across the nation. She said making an exception for the kiosks opens San Diego up to digital billboards and other intense advertising that is outlawed here but common in Los Angeles, Phoenix and other large cities. “We are a market they are dying to get into,” she said. Wilson also called the deal a “snow job,” contending that proponents’ focus on wayfinding and help with homelessness are a ruse to distract from the kiosks being all about advertising. Read more.
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Scenic San Diego Asserts Opposition to Digital Kiosks
6/6/23—Scenic San Diego volunteer director Pam Wilson voiced the opposition of over a hundred San Diegans to the digital kiosk proposal at the June 6th San Diego City Council meeting. With a presentation outlining conflicts of interest, overblown benefit claims and the dangers of undermining San Diego’s historic sign ordinance, Wilson spoke passionately against the proposal. To watch the full meeting online go to the City of San Diego City Council webcasts page, scroll down to the agenda and select Item #334. Go to the webcasts page. |
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A Compelling Argument Against Digital Kiosks from S.D. Planning Commission Chair
6/2/23 - In the April 20th Planning Commission meeting, Chairperson William Hofman voiced his common-sense reasoning for voting against the digital kiosks: "I am afraid of the risk from people who may want to challenge our sign ordinance or try to do similar things. I am not going to support the motion. To watch the full meeting online go to the City of San Diego City Council webcasts page. |
Views Are Worth Protecting“You can switch TV channels or the radio station, but you can’t turn us off,” ~ Hande Jones, Lamar Outdoor Advertising
Scenic San Diego is a coalition of concerned citizens and organizations who favor strong sign ordinances and oppose proposals to amend existing strict sign laws to allow digital billboards, digital ad kiosks and other advertising sign proliferation. We are affiliated with the premier national organization fighting for beautification and against sign pollution, Scenic America.
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