FINALLY - Someone speaks up about the billboards "littering" our city just as badly as trash thrown onthe sidewalk. Do we really need billboards in our City? Is "Pregnant and Scared" an appropriate billboard for our City by the Sea?

At least one of these lots is in violation of the ruling that allowed these ugly signs to stay. For rent signs, parking signs, boat storage was not part of the original agreement with the owners as per the state supreme court ruling. At a minimum they were to be maintained and free of rubbish. This is not happening.

It is time to re-visit this ruling allowing billboards in what is one of America's most scenic towns. They are not appropriate. I am fed up. It is time that City officials file suit with the billboard owners or the sate or buy the land from them. Wethe city should appeal the supreme court ruling. How is possible that the city of Newport cannot dictate what type of advertising is allowed in our city? Does anyone care what one of the busiest streets in town looks like? If I were a tourist driving down lower Thames I would lock my doors. Unfortunately, I live here and have to look at the billboards and the trash evey day. let's do something about this!!!

Billboards educational??? really?

Simply put, they detract from the aesthetics of our city. Antiquated town policy, lack of vision and or concern by elected officials and an overall lack of concern for taking an initiative and elevating Newport to a quality level have allowed these eyesores to exist. We as residents, I suppose, are satisfied with no change.

I've actually contacted City Hall about this directly. I'm working to get the documentation on what actually allows these billboards. I'm the property owner next to the bill boards on Van Zandt Ave., and I'm looking for ammunition to force the property owner of the bill boards to remove them. As per the city ordinances, they are currently illegal. Once I get the documentation that the city is apparently sitting on, I'd like to push forward and gather enough people to show the city officials that the whole city wants them removed.

If you have more to add and want to join my effort, please email me at Torrey.C.Jacobsen@gmail.com. Thanks and lets clean up our beautiful Newport.

Check this out:
http://newport.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/resident-says-billboards-violate-city-ordinance

And of course, the city has taken NO action.

Yes! Let's get rid of ugly billboards - support Scenic America's efforts to delete blight from our landscape. Read how Middletown did so on East Main.....

http://middletown.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/middletown-presented-award-for-removing-billboards.

John

And of course, the fence surrounding the lot at Morton and Thames ST billboards is falling down. . When I telephoned City Hall the demeanor of the person on the telephone was that of being annoyed by my request to:
1. have zoning etc..., deal with the fencing issue
2. have graffiti on the billboards removed

I suppose once you get a City of Newport job the work stops at getting employed rather than performing the job for which you were hired. City Zoning Officials, wake up, go outside of your office and actually realize the violations in Newport. Zoning officials in cities siginficantly larger than Newport perform this function with positive results.

Again, Cronyism at its best in City hall.