editor Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 There's been a lot of talk on HAIF about billboards and other visual pollution in Houston. Some politicians in Houston have even promised to go after the billboard companies. That's why when I ran across this video today I knew people in Houston would be interested in it. It's put together by KCET, the PBS television station in Los Angeles. It's about that city's fight against billboards. Essentially here's how the billboard companies operate there:Put up lots of illegal billboardsFight in court for years, costing the city moneyDonate money or billboard space to every city council member and the city attorneyGet all the formerly illegal billboards declared legal, in exchange for dropping the lawsuitsGo to step 1The video is 9:14, but goes pretty quickly. It's worth watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 I just spotted a digital billboard tonight while driving SB on the SW Fwy near Fountainview. It's one of the few that I've seen in town so far. Hopefully, it'll stay that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted December 28, 2008 Author Share Posted December 28, 2008 I just spotted a digital billboard tonight while driving SB on the SW Fwy near Fountainview. It's one of the few that I've seen in town so far. Hopefully, it'll stay that way.I've seen some. I think they're OK during the day, but at night they're simply too bright. They shouldn't be brighter than the streetlights. I find them very distracting when I drive by, especially the ones that play video.I wonder if the old mechanical flippy billboards will become historic items now that signs have gone digital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 man i hate billboards with a passion!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 man i hate billboards with a passion!!!You might want to be active in the Scenic Houston organization.Billboards along the freeways are one thing, but digital boards playing video are another. Anyone else envision them becoming so distracting that wrecks happen more frequently in proximity to them. A few accidents and lawsuits later I believe this will be re-thought very quickly.But don't expect the campaign against billboards to be easy. Someone is making money off these things, and they wont allow their wallets to get lighter without a fight. They will take on anyone who wants to get these things removed.At the very least they can get rid of billboards that are not along highways... especially the ones near me that we've wanted gone for nearly 20 years and more.... check Buffalo Speedway, between West Alabama and Westheimer, across from the Lamar Tower Condominiums. It's, for the most part, a residential area, leading right into River Oaks... complete with advertising eyesores.These are the types of billboards that Clear Channel Outdoor has agreed to remove (831 of them at least). They are supposed to be gone by February 1, 2009. Scenic Houston is monitoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 You might want to be active in the Scenic Houston organization.These are the types of billboards that Clear Channel Outdoor has agreed to remove (831 of them at least). They are supposed to be gone by February 1, 2009. Scenic Houston is monitoring. hmm, pretty cool thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 If you've ever traveled to Puerto Rico they have the most awesome billboards. They are kinda louvered and turn to reveal different ads. Kinda wish we had those here, but I suppose there are some sorts of restrictions or ordinances against them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas911 Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Houston has bigger aesthetic issues than billboards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Houston has bigger aesthetic issues than billboards.Meaning that people shouldn't care about anything less than the biggest aesthetic issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfre81 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 What's with those upside-down "Durrett" billboards on the Gulf Freeway?I dunno though, I do a pretty good job of blocking out visual clutter. It's better that people actually focus on the road and not what's hanging 50 feet in the air off to the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I wonder how many were brought down by the hurricane? It was my understanding that billboards could not be replaced if it was blown down. But from the looks of the north frwy, Ike left many of them unscathed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas911 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Meaning that people shouldn't care about anything less than the biggest aesthetic issues?Meaning they should channel their energy elsewhere. Its like getting on someone to mow their yard when the whole house is an eyesore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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