7/29/23 Final Digital Kiosk Action Alert
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The San Diego City Council is meeting Tuesday, August 1st to vote on implementing digital kiosks. This partnership with IKE Smart Cities will bring 75 or more 8ft tall "digital wayfinding kiosks" to our downtown sidewalks, kiosks that do nothing but spew visual pollution and ads while harvesting personal data. This measure also creates an exemption to San Diego law opening up the floodgates to more egregious outdoor advertising which is why TWO of our Councilmembers - Joe LaCava and Vivian Moreno - have wisely opposed the proposal. We must show the others that we don't need or want these giant obtrusive kiosks.
Here's how you can take action:
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Sample Comment Text
Meeting Date: August 1, 2023 Comment Type: City Council Comment Agenda Item Number: 54 I would like to express my opposition to the proposed partnership between the City of San Diego and IKE Smart Cities. The proposed system, comprised of 75 digital kiosks positioned throughout downtown San Diego, would bring intrusive digital advertising to the center of the city, in violation of the historic ban on new outdoor advertising (San Diego Municipal Code §142.1201-142.1293). These signs would create a proliferation of garish advertising that would harm quality of life for the people of San Diego and would bring ugly visual pollution to our city. The proposal for this system is not legally or economically sound. A report issued on November 25, 2022 by the Office of The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA Report Number 22-31) cautioned against the plan and advised that the proposal would undermine the current sign regulations, and that revenue potential for the city would be limited. The report identified many more viable options for pursuing revenue opportunities. We plead for the City Council to vote NO on this proposal. Authorizing thousands of new ads per day on city streets will undermine the sign regulations that have protected the visual beauty of San Diego, and which have made it a beautiful and attractive place to live, for more than 50 years. |
With this FINAL VOTE your comments in opposition matter more than ever. Make your voice heard.
TELL LA MESA CITY COUNCIL:
No Digital Billboards in our Community!
We need your help to prevent the approval of new, illegal digital billboards in La Mesa. The La Mesa City Council will be meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 25, to hear the recommendation of their ad hoc subcommittee on digital billboards. The ad hoc subcommittee will be recommending that the City Council direct staff to submit the digital billboard proposal through an RFP process, despite these digital billboards being illegal by La Mesa code!
The proposal presents several other issues:
No Digital Billboards in our Community!
We need your help to prevent the approval of new, illegal digital billboards in La Mesa. The La Mesa City Council will be meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 25, to hear the recommendation of their ad hoc subcommittee on digital billboards. The ad hoc subcommittee will be recommending that the City Council direct staff to submit the digital billboard proposal through an RFP process, despite these digital billboards being illegal by La Mesa code!
The proposal presents several other issues:
- The proposed location of these billboards on I-8 is one of the busiest sections of highway in the city, presenting a dangerous level of distraction to drivers not used to seeing these illuminated signs.
- This proposal seems to ignore the due diligence and fact finding necessary for such a project. The City Council should commission a study to investigate the implications on traffic, safety, land ownership, as well as the established laws preventing digital billboards.
- By submitting the proposal through an RFP process, the ad hoc subcommittee is effectively selling the beauty of La Mesa county to the highest bidder.
The San Diego City Council will be meeting on Monday, July 17 to vote on the proposed partnership between the City of San Diego and IKE Smart Cities to bring visual pollution in the form of "digital wayfinding kiosks" to city sidewalks. This is the second of three votes on this proposal.
Your attendance and participation in this process is vital to make any attempt to defeat this measure. Prior meetings have shown little opposition to these digital ad kiosks, which require an exemption of San Diego law in order to allow digital signs in the right of way as well as off-premises advertising. There is a reason these signs require a change of the law, and through our collective action, we can show the City Council how unpopular this proposal actually is. Please consider the following measures to help us voice our opposition to this proposal:
Your attendance and participation in this process is vital to make any attempt to defeat this measure. Prior meetings have shown little opposition to these digital ad kiosks, which require an exemption of San Diego law in order to allow digital signs in the right of way as well as off-premises advertising. There is a reason these signs require a change of the law, and through our collective action, we can show the City Council how unpopular this proposal actually is. Please consider the following measures to help us voice our opposition to this proposal:
- Submit a public comment via the city's webform by 8 AM Monday morning
- Attend the meeting in person:
City Administration Building
City Council Chambers- 12th Floor
202 C Street San Diego, CA 92101 - Attend the meeting via Zoom
- Attend the meeting by phone: Dial 1-669-254 5252
Webinar ID: 160 114 3486
It is vital to voice your opposition to this drastic expansion of outdoor advertising. Here is how:
The proposed system, comprised of 50 digital kiosks positioned throughout downtown San Diego, would bring intrusive digital advertising to the center of the city, in violation of the historic ban on new outdoor advertising (San Diego Municipal Code §142.1201-142.1293). These signs would create a proliferation of garish advertising that would harm quality of life for the people of San Diego and would bring ugly visual pollution to our city.
The proposal for this system is not legally or economically sound. A report issued on November 25, 2022 by the Office of The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA Report Number 22-31) cautioned against the plan and advised that the proposal would undermine the current sign regulations, and that revenue potential for the city would be limited. The report identified many more viable options for pursuing revenue opportunities.
We plead for the City Council to vote NO on this proposal. Authorizing this wayfinding system will undermine the sign regulations that have protected the visual beauty of San Diego, and which have made it a beautiful and attractive place to live, for more than 50 years.
- Attend a City Council meeting in person at City Hall downtown.
Speak or cede time to our coordinator Pam Wilson, so she can speak for more than one minute. Info on upcoming meetings coming soon. Get driving directions | Download parking info. - Join the meeting virtually by Zoom or telephone (1-669-254 5252, meeting ID 160 114 3486). Launch Zoom .
- Submit written comments on the city council website. You may write your own message or use the sample language below. Submit your comments.
The proposed system, comprised of 50 digital kiosks positioned throughout downtown San Diego, would bring intrusive digital advertising to the center of the city, in violation of the historic ban on new outdoor advertising (San Diego Municipal Code §142.1201-142.1293). These signs would create a proliferation of garish advertising that would harm quality of life for the people of San Diego and would bring ugly visual pollution to our city.
The proposal for this system is not legally or economically sound. A report issued on November 25, 2022 by the Office of The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA Report Number 22-31) cautioned against the plan and advised that the proposal would undermine the current sign regulations, and that revenue potential for the city would be limited. The report identified many more viable options for pursuing revenue opportunities.
We plead for the City Council to vote NO on this proposal. Authorizing this wayfinding system will undermine the sign regulations that have protected the visual beauty of San Diego, and which have made it a beautiful and attractive place to live, for more than 50 years.
5/25/23 - The digital kiosks proposal is due to be heard by the San Diego City Council at its 10 am meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
The digital kiosks proposal currently before the San Diego City Council was uncritically approved in March of this year in committee and approved by the City of San Diego Planning Commission in April, despite two strong “No” votes. Help us oppose this assault. Here's how to take action:
The digital kiosks proposal currently before the San Diego City Council was uncritically approved in March of this year in committee and approved by the City of San Diego Planning Commission in April, despite two strong “No” votes. Help us oppose this assault. Here's how to take action:
- Attend the June 6 City Council meeting in person at City Hall downtown.
Speak or cede time to our coordinator Pam Wilson, so she can speak for more than two minutes. We will post the item number the kiosk proposal is assigned on the agenda, as soon as it is announced.
Instructions for providing testimony during the June 6th, 2023 meeting will be posted on the City Clerk’s website at
sandiego.gov/city-clerk/officialdocs/council-agendas-minutes-results prior to the hearing, and on the meeting agenda. Get Directions | Download parking info. Sign up to join us! - Attend the City Council meeting via Zoom or phone. Get link and instructions.
- Submit written comment on the City’s website.
Once we post the item number the kiosk proposal is assigned on the agenda, written comments may be submitted electronically using the City Clerk webform at sandiego.gov/form/agenda-comment-form by indicating the agenda item number assigned to the digital ad proposal.
5/25/23 - The digital kiosks proposal is due to be heard by the San Diego City Council at its 10 am meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
The digital kiosks proposal currently before the San Diego City Council was uncritically approved in March of this year in committee and approved by the City of San Diego Planning Commission in April, despite two strong “No” votes. Help us oppose this assault. Here's how to take action:
The digital kiosks proposal currently before the San Diego City Council was uncritically approved in March of this year in committee and approved by the City of San Diego Planning Commission in April, despite two strong “No” votes. Help us oppose this assault. Here's how to take action:
- Attend the June 6 City Council meeting in person at City Hall downtown.
Speak or cede time to our coordinator Pam Wilson, so she can speak for more than one minute. The item number #334. It’s calendared for the afternoon session beginning at 2 pm, listed as about the 3rd item on the afternoon agenda so people should arrive by 2 pm even though it may not be heard until 3 pm or later. View instructions for providing testimony during the meeting. Get Directions | Download parking info. Sign up to join us! - Attend the City Council meeting via Zoom or phone. Get link and instructions.
- Submit written comment on the City’s website.
Written comments - be sure to include the item number is 334 - may be submitted electronically using the City Clerk webform at sandiego.gov/form/agenda-comment-form. - Write a letter.
Additionally, you may write a letter to the Mayor and City Council, Attention: City Clerk, City Administration Building, 202 "C" Street, San Diego, CA 92101-4806, Mail Station 2A. All communications will be forwarded to the Mayor and Council.
Attend a City Council meeting
Attending a council meeting is a great way to show your concern. If you are comfortable speaking we can heartily support you in doing so with sample text and a practice session. To join our group of citizen advocates and attend an upcoming city council meeting, sign up on our Contact page.
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Contact your representatives
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City of San Diego
Comments for the Land Use & Housing Committee may be submitted to: Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego toddgloria@sandiego.gov Sherri Lightner, Committee Vice Chair, Council President Pro Tem sherrilightner@sandiego.gov Lori Zapf, Committee Chair, Councilmember loriezapf@sandiego.gov David Alvarez, Councilmember davidalvarez@sandiego.gov Kelly Batten, Council Committee Consultant 202 C Street, 3rd Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 kmbatten@sandiego.gov (619) 533-6465 Council members’ postal mail address is: City Administration Building 202 C Street, MS #10A, San Diego, CA 92101 |
City of Vista
Judy Ritter, Mayor jritter@cityofvista.com Phone: (760) 726-1340 ext. 1436 Dave Cowles, Deputy Mayor dcowles@cityofvista.com Phone: (760) 639-6130 John Aguilera, Councilmember jaguilera@cityofvista.com Phone: (760) 639-6130 Cody Campbell, Councilmember ccampbell@cityofvista.com Phone: (760) 639-6130 Amanda Rigby, Councilmember arigby@cityofvista.com Phone: (760) 639-6130 |
San Diego County Supervisors
San Diego County Supervisors have been studying a proposal to amend the County's decades old ban on digital billboards, opening the door to visual blight and pollution that has been held at bay since the mid 1980's. The International Dark Skies Association has already voiced its opposition to changing current law. Let County Supervisors know you do not want to see Times-Square-style, garish advertising in our County. You can email the Supervisors at the following addresses: Greg Cox, District One Supervisor greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov Dianne Jacob, District Two Supervisor dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov Dave Roberts, District Three Supervisor Dave.Roberts@sdcounty.ca.gov Ron Roberts, District Four Supervisor RonRoberts.district4@sdcounty.ca.gov Bill Horn, District Five Supervisor bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov |
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