Candidate Campaign Murals Cause Controversy
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Feb 21, 2012 at 11:25 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 22, 2012
Enormous, bright and what some are calling an eyesore.
Political signs are painted on walls and posted in the ground throughout the city of Laredo; some signs are years old.
Ordinances regarding removal of paper and plastic signs are in effect but nothing regarding the wall paintings.
Jorge Vera, Dist. VII Councilmember: "When they paint the whole wall, talking about maybe half a block, you know, it tends to make Laredo look a little...ugly…"
Carlos Villarreal, City Manager: "It started kind of on a smaller scale, but it proceeded. Some of those signs are larger than billboards."
The paintings are different from the signs on the ground.
These walls are owned by private citizens and some City Councilmembers are concerned an ordinance against it would infringe on the citizens' rights.
But City Attorney Raul Casso said as long as all paintings are prohibited, rights would not be taken away.
"Not if we stay content neutral, in otherwise, the regulation of the sign has to be done without irrespective of what it may say. So we're not focusing on what the sign says but we're regulating where they may be placed to keep the city in order and keep it beautiful."
This would include art paintings, but the council agrees they want this ordinance to be in residential areas only.
But Dist. III Councilman Alejandro Perez said if the paintings are banned, candidates will find ways to get around the ordinance.
"Instead of the painted sign, I can go and make a 50-foot banner and it put it up instead of the painted signs. So it's going to be the same thing."
The council agreed to have the City Attorney draft an ordinance to vote on in the future.
City leaders said this ordinance will not help with the 2012 elections, but would go into affect for the future.
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X-Laredo Onda said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 9:12 AM
Banners can be stolen... Entire walls is something different entirely... Hey,,,isn't the "50'" banner thing done by cartels to promote their terrorism??? Maybe this dude is on to something...
81898613Do It said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 12:10 PM
Drive by with paintball guns and target practice!!!
81919603Roe said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 1:21 PM
Wow....good job City Council....why not inforce the other City Ordinances first....like the all the garage sale signs on the poles and grassy areas....or how this one...inforce the sidewalk ordinance? I am talking about all the cars that continue to park on the sidewalks, making the pedestrians walk on the streets. That is a Serious safety hazard!
81927842Gary said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 2:07 PM
The segment on ash wednsday was offensive.Give equal time to Islam.A segment on evening prayers would be nice.Praise Allah!
81933352How About A said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 2:11 PM
Sidewalk on the 1600 blk. of Clark Blvd.The people there ruined any chance of putting a sidewalk there.Brick retaining wall looks very tacky.
81933803! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 1:02 AM
I think how about A is jealous for living in a government subsidized jacal. There was never a sidewalk there in the first place. Go cash in your food stamps.
819905311for ROE said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 2:42 PM
Vehicles blocking sidewalks, cops drive around all the time and see what is going on and do not give tickets.But it is like everything else do-nothing until something bad happens then say we need to discuss this.
82045624To ! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 5:28 PM
Nope, dont live in no stinkin gov. housing no foodstamps,I own two homes.I agree no sidewalk there, now the chance of putting one there is ruined.It does look tacky and out of place.Was a permit required? Oh wait not in Laredo.
82059564! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 6:43 PM
Just because you buy something on credit does not mean you own it.
82067683To ! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 9:09 PM
Forgot to mention I dont pay a mortgage dont pay rent,just my yearly taxes and upkeep on my properties. I own everything outright.No car payments either.Can you say that?
82081414Rob said on Friday, Feb 24 at 9:39 AM
A lady was robbed at knife point in North Central Park yesterday......yeah, Murals/Signs on Walls are more important.....darn Council Members.
82122844Want2beyouTo! said on Friday, Feb 24 at 10:48 AM
What do you do for a living?
82141183down town up town said on Friday, Feb 24 at 12:11 PM
f&*%#king fix the god dam downtown street (puros P*nches posos) parece k estamos en mexico
82158622jfdjfi said on Friday, Feb 24 at 2:08 PM
Let them try to rob me at the park, bring a knife to a gun fight.
82172764To ! said on Friday, Feb 24 at 7:46 PM
Retired,in my younger years I was in the inner circle of Pepe Martin.Priviledged I was.Never wanting for anything,money,the best of EVERYTHING.
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