[Vision2020] Info Regarding Political Signs

[Kai Eiselein, Editor]

Don,
The mere fact that there is a law on the books that restricts a freedom 
guaranteed by the Constitution damages us all. It trivializes our First 
Amendment guarantee, on private property no less.
Title 7, Chapter 6, Section 6-4 of the city code states it is misdemeanor to 
violate the sign law, in essence making political speech a crime.
In addition, the ordinance apparently allows for confiscation of property 
without due process.
I can do without the threat of warrantless search and seizure and a 
government that tells me when I can, or can't, express my opinion. It 
doesn't matter whether it is at the local, state or federal level.


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Don Coombs" <mushroom at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 1:33 PM
To: "v2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Info Regarding Political Signs

>
>
> Sue Hovey wrote:
>> I understand there have to be some limits to the size of a sign and
>> placement restrictions, and I believe court decisions have indicated
>> those restrictions to be legal, but help me understand why there are ANY
>> limits to the number of days during which a sign may be displayed.  I
>> think this prohibition needs to be reconsidered.
>>
>> Dan Carscallen, are you reading this?  If so, I think someone on the
>> council needs to take a look for surely it is a violation of a
>> person's First Amendment rights to set a time line on freedom of
>> speech.
>>
>> Are there others out there who might be willing to work to get this
>> timeline prohibition changed?  I am planning to post a yard sign which
>> reads, "Support our Troops--Vote Democrat."  I suppose that means I
>> can't legally place it in my yard until early September.
>>
>
> I have no doubt this restriction is a violation of the
> First Amendment.
>
> I'm also sure that most of us on the V2020 list have
> many better things to do than try to change the
> ordinance. That's because no one is put at any
> disadvantage or damaged in any way, even emotionally,
> by the ordinance.
>
> If people want to campaign to change the ordinance, I
> hope that after they succeed everyone will still abide
> by it. They will still abide by the restrictions
> because of simple neighborliness; limited tenure for
> political posters makes our city a more attactive place.
>
> If I were a candidate I would want to abide by the
> restrictions for that same reason, and because the
> voters would appreciate that demonstration of
> neighborliness.
>
> Don Coombs
>
>
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Kai Eiselein
Editor, Latah Eagle