By Rae Starr Santa Monica
Melody Hanatani’s article (“Profiling and styling while making the political scene, Oct. 25, page 3) noted complaints about illegal placement of election signs. The problem was even worse on Pico Boulevard, east of Lincoln Boulevard. The placards went up on the weekend when removal by city staff was not an option. Many were positioned to block safety signs that keep drivers from hitting the concrete medians at night.
The group behind these political “soft money” signs is apparently promoting the mayor, one challenger and two incumbent city councilmen. Last weekend’s signs were more than a nuisance, and worse than graffiti — they violated public safety. It’s agreed that our city council needs reform, but are scofflaws, and the candidates they favor, the reformers we need for public office?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 31, 2006. Read the original PDF.