Featured

Times: Ugly, Illegal Billboards Thrive on Local Highways

By Roy Edroso Mon., Sep. 14 2009 at 10:30 AM
Categories: Advertising, Citystate, Environmental, Featured
billboardcrash.jpg
It appears most of those hideous billboards that line the highways leading from New York to its bedroom communities are illegal. The Times tells us that federal guidelines required New York to lose most of its billboards in 1979. yet there are hundreds littering the big roads. Some of the signs' locations were given special clearance back in '79, and some are OK for other reasons, but many have just been thrown up along the highway by space-sellers in full defiance of the law. A decision by Judge Paul Crotty this spring called these malefactors out, and some of the visual polluters have, with great chutzpah, answered the charge with their own lawsuit on free-speech grounds, meaning they'll probably hold out until the tea parties take over and rescue them, overturning all environmental laws and making billboards mandatory. The case continues to rattle around in court, and the city won't fine the billboard companies till it plays out.

Email to Friend
Print Article

We Recommend

My Voice Nation Help
VOICE Daily Deals

From the Vault

 

Slideshows»

©2013 Village Voice, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places New York

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city