A couple of years ago, there was a bill introduced in the Alabama Legislature that would have effectively eliminated sign regulations in the state. Scenic Alabama fought it, of course, and one of our strongest supporters was a group from Orange Beach. City officials and business leaders in that city have worked long and hard to create a welcoming, beautiful environment for their residents and thousands of visitors.
The city passed a billboard prohibition in 2001, and the industry has been fighting them ever since. This week, at last, the city won, and the billboards are coming down. Billboard company to pull 3 Boards
The people on the Gulf Coast are resilient in the face of natural and man-made disasters. They know that billboards not only are a visual blight that interferes with tourism, but also can create a negative impression of the community depending on what message appears on the board.
Orange Beach was in it for the long haul, and so is Scenic Alabama. We have been working behind the scenes for a couple of years: fighting bad legislation, educating public officials, and organizing to keep Corridor X/I-22 free from billboard blight. You will be seeing more of us in the months ahead, as these long-term projects come to fruition. Please keep in touch and support Scenic Alabama.
Showing posts with label billboard ban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label billboard ban. Show all posts
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 23, 2007
10,000 Billboards is enough!
Just got back from a trip to Denver, Colorado. While I was out there, I met with one of the Board members of Scenic Colorado, who was quite impressed with the success we've had in Alabama. We really do have a lot to be proud of, but more work ahead.
One of the things that struck me was how few billboards Colorado actually has - they did a complete survey a couple of years ago, and there were fewer than 2,300 IN THE WHOLE STATE - not just interstates, but everywhere. Alabama has 10,000 billboards - and that is just on the interstates and major highways! It works out to 1.5 billboards per mile. That doesn't even count state roads, county roads and city roads. Don't you think 10,000 billboards is enough?
For me personally, Alabama has it hands down over Denver for scenic beauty. Not to insult Rockies lovers, but a distant horizon of snow-covered peaks does not make my heart sing like a view of forest-covered mountains or a beautiful lake. Yet we continue to cover up this beauty as if it did not matter!
Here's what you can do, if you agree that 10,000 billboards is enough: Call your legislator and ask him or her to support Scenic Alabama legislation. Find your House member here and your Senate member here. We are proposing two bills this year. One would not allow any new billboards to be constructed on interstates and major roads. The other would increase the application fee and renewal fee (right now they are a paltry $25 and $10) for billboards, with the funds going to ALDOT for implementing and enforcing the Highway Beautification Act.
We're talking to legislators about signing on as a sponsor, so anyone with a suggestion please comment or email us so we can follow up.
Remember: 10,000 billboards is enough! Let's make sure we can see our state's beautiful places.
One of the things that struck me was how few billboards Colorado actually has - they did a complete survey a couple of years ago, and there were fewer than 2,300 IN THE WHOLE STATE - not just interstates, but everywhere. Alabama has 10,000 billboards - and that is just on the interstates and major highways! It works out to 1.5 billboards per mile. That doesn't even count state roads, county roads and city roads. Don't you think 10,000 billboards is enough?
For me personally, Alabama has it hands down over Denver for scenic beauty. Not to insult Rockies lovers, but a distant horizon of snow-covered peaks does not make my heart sing like a view of forest-covered mountains or a beautiful lake. Yet we continue to cover up this beauty as if it did not matter!
Here's what you can do, if you agree that 10,000 billboards is enough: Call your legislator and ask him or her to support Scenic Alabama legislation. Find your House member here and your Senate member here. We are proposing two bills this year. One would not allow any new billboards to be constructed on interstates and major roads. The other would increase the application fee and renewal fee (right now they are a paltry $25 and $10) for billboards, with the funds going to ALDOT for implementing and enforcing the Highway Beautification Act.
We're talking to legislators about signing on as a sponsor, so anyone with a suggestion please comment or email us so we can follow up.
Remember: 10,000 billboards is enough! Let's make sure we can see our state's beautiful places.
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