[Peace-discuss] Billboards and Free Speech

[John W.]

At 06:34 PM 9/24/2007, Morton K. Brussel wrote:

>It seems to me that this issue of "free speech" for billboard companies 
>who can censor the "free speech" of those wishing to display a message on 
>their billboards should be noted at the City Council meeting.
>
>--mkb

You can do it, but legally it would be to no avail.  The Urbana City 
Attorney would explain essentially what I just explained.  And that would 
be that.



>On Sep 24, 2007, at 6:20 PM, Jan & Durl Kruse wrote:
>
>>John,
>>
>>This is very interesting.  Because of "free speech rights" an advertising 
>>company like Adams can print anything it wants on its billboards in 
>>Urbana as long as it is not obscene (and of course they get handsomely 
>>paid for it) , while at the same time denying AWARE's "free speech 
>>rights" by refusing to accept our wording "IMPEACH BUSH/CHENEY" for a 
>>billboard in 2006 promoting the ballot advisory referendum.
>>
>>This raises some interesting questions.  Is "advertising" protected free 
>>speech and the exercise of free speech as implied in the 
>>constitution?  Where does an "individual's free speech right " fit into 
>>this picture when the company itself (Adams) refuses to print the wording 
>>Impeach Bush/Cheney on a billboard because it is too politically charged 
>>and may have a negative business backlash.
>>
>>Something is afoul here!
>>
>>I hope the Urbana City Council sticks to its position of regulating 
>>billboards through "time, place and manner" by not permitting Adams to 
>>place billboards in locations that are unsightly or unwanted by the 
>>citizens of Urbana.  I don't believe the city council is trying to 
>>regulate billboard content but attempting to control  visual pollution.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>On Sep 24, 2007, at 5:32 PM, John W. wrote:
>>
>>>At 05:10 PM 9/24/2007, Jan & Durl Kruse wrote:
>>>
>>>>>Billboards and Free Speech:
>>>>><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zpXLKAyESM&mode=related&search=>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zpXLKAyESM&mode=related&search= 
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Urbana reconsidering last year's ordinance on billboards
>>>>>By Mike Monson
>>>>>
>>>>>Monday September 24, 2007
>>>>>
>>>>>URBANA – A lawsuit filed against the city of Urbana by Adams Outdoor 
>>>>>Advertising is prompting city officials to propose revising an 
>>>>>ordinance that is barely a year old.
>>>>>
>>>>>Adams owns all 32 billboard structures, with 64 billboard faces, in 
>>>>>the city of Urbana. The company filed suit in Champaign County Circuit 
>>>>>Court this past November, asking for relief from the city's new 
>>>>>billboard ordinance, which was approved by the city council in June 2006.
>>>>>
>>>>>In the suit, Adams objected to the fact that to get a new billboard 
>>>>>requires the company to get a special use permit approved by the city 
>>>>>council and reviewed by the plan commission. Adams contended that 
>>>>>requiring a special use permit was an abridgment on its First 
>>>>>Amendment rights to free speech and failed to include basic due 
>>>>>process protections.
>>>
>>>
>>>If the permission granted or denied is based in any way on the CONTENT 
>>>of the advertising, other than probably obscenity, Adams is absolutely 
>>>right.  However, the city can impose what are called "time, place, and 
>>>manner" restrictions on the billboards.
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