In 2011, Constitutions Still Matter
Do you remember the blue Clear Channel billboards declaring “Constitutions Matter”? We remember. We summarized this epic episode in Tacoma’s history here.
Yes, in 2007, Tacoma drove a lance into the heart of democracy and attempted to autocratically control the practice of free speech. Dark days were those. All may have been lost, but for a lone freedom fighter, armed with nothing more than millions of dollars and hundreds of lawyers – lowly little Clear Channel. If Clear Channel had not valiantly fought for the modestly-inhibited right to hoist gigantic photos of fried chicken above our soggy sidewalks, the very meaning of America might now be only a memory.
After such a close brush with utter despotism, it might be surprising that Tacoma’s council is finally bringing its ordinances into alignment with mattering Constitutions. According to a Tacoma News Tribune article posted this weekend, the City is seeking citizen input on a wide range of electronic billboard questions, including location, quantity, size and type. A community meeting was held today at the Evergreen State College campus to discuss these issues, with the goal of presenting proposed ordinance updates in February. Soon, the Planning Commission’s recommendations will be before the City Council. More information on issues the City faces in its compromise with Clear Channel can be found in these notes presented to the planning commission earlier this month.
These ordinance updates could well be the final chapter in one of the most conspicuous ordinance tussles in Tacoma’s history. What are your thoughts on the measures under consideration?
Filed under: Billboards
4 comments
R RR Anderson January 31, 2011
DEATH TO CLEAR CHANNEL! IF VOTING DOESN’T WORK, TIME TO EXPLORE THE REPUBLICAN’S FAMOUS “SECOND AMENDMENT REMEDIES” HEY TACOMA, DON’T RETREAT, RELOAD! SHIFT HAPPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R RR Anderson February 1, 2011
maybe they’ll “compromise” next and in exchange for not getting sued, the city will surrender naming rights to the Tacoma Dome…. SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! MONSTER JAM AT THE CLEAR CHANNEL DOME IN TACOMA! SEE THE RETURN OF NATURAL HIGH BUT FIRST A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE CHILD WE KILLED A COUPLE YEARS AGO…(awkward sound of stadium seats, soft drink slurping)… AN NOW BACK TO THE RAGE OF STEEL GASOLINE MOTOR MURDER! BOOM!
O okay with the mall February 2, 2011
Personally, I am much more annoyed with the huge, very bright digital billboards on I-5 right near the Pierce-King line. They’re so distracting, especially at night! Aaugh.
R RR Anderson February 4, 2011
I have a question for the Mayor… How GREEN are digital/traditional billboards?
How many CFL bulbs = One Digital billboard?
How many electric cars can you charge from electricity that would normally go into a digital billboard?