Editor,
Once again billboard companies are inserting themselves into the state legislative process via SB76. Once again it makes no sense that billboards are an issue of such statewide importance that the Legislature needs to address them. Local communities should have the right to regulate signs in their community. There is no threat that any billboard company is going to suddenly declare bankruptcy if they don’t get free-rein state-endowed rights to place electronic billboards anywhere and everywhere! Sweeping aside local government processes is simply not an area that the state should get into. For no easily understood reason, billboards are already the most protected land use in our state. They don’t need more rights!
It should be hard to figure out how the billboard companies have so much influence, except that it isn’t. Providing significant campaign contributions to as many legislators as possible gets special treatment. This raises many ethical questions.
Signs are a local issue. The Legislature should see that, but it is hard to see through the dollar signs in their pockets.
John Janson
Salt Lake City
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