A bill before the California Assembly, AB1373, would exempt an approximately 40 square block section of downtown Los Angeles from regulations of the California Outdoor Advertising Act.

This bill was introduced at the behest of the developer of a large mixed-use project adjacent to the 110 freeway who seeks to put up advertising signs, including electronic displays, that do not conform to provisions of the Outdoor Advertising Act regarding sign size, spacing, and “off-site” advertising. Such signs would greatly increase visual blight and clutter in the area, as well as present a potential distraction and hazard to motorists on one of the most heavily-traveled sections of freeway in the city.

Such legislation could jeopardize California’s federal highway funding. The state is charged with implementing and enforcing the federal Highway Beautification Act, which mandates a 10% per cent reduction in funding if provisions of that Act are violated.

The state should not be in the business of granting such favors to individual property owners or groups of property owners, which amounts to a kind of “spot” zoning. There is no measurable benefit to the people of Los Angeles from this bill, but an arguable detriment in the proliferation of large, commercial ads in the visual landscape of the city. The only real benefit is to the developer of this project now under construction, in the form of revenue from advertisers seeking a captive audience of freeway users.

Take action:www.scenic.org/ab1373