Visual pollution is everywhere in Gilroy
– and we’re not just speaking about the awful blight and
vandalism known as graffiti. It’s the signs, too. Signs posted on
road signs, signs posted on fences, signs on light poles and signs
on street corners. Gilroy has, unfortunately, become a messy place.
Truly anything goes and the consequences
are virtually nil.
1. Visual pollution is rampant and anything goes in the Garlic Capital
Visual pollution is everywhere in Gilroy – and we’re not just speaking about the awful blight and vandalism known as graffiti. It’s the signs, too. Signs posted on road signs, signs posted on fences, signs on light poles and signs on street corners. Gilroy has, unfortunately, become a messy place. Truly anything goes and the consequences are virtually nil.
2. There ought to be a law … wait there is a law on the Gilroy books
The sign hangers know that, so Gilroy is prime territory for everything from advertisements for gun sales to promotion for day care centers. There ought to be a law. Wait, there is … but it’s not enforced, and therein lies the rub.
Why does the City Council pass a law when it’s not going to be enforced? If it’s never going to have teeth, let’s take it off the books, rescind it.
3. A sign sweep day once monthly could really help the situation
The other option is to find a way to enforce it. How about holding a sign sweep day once a month, where some volunteers for the police department take down all the illegal signs? And what about a few fines for the folks that come and plaster our city with illegal signs for the upcoming rodeo in Timbuktoo?
Illegal signs are blight that tarnish our city’s image and lower the quality of life bar for residents. Gilroy can either accept that as an unfortunate fact of life and throw up its hands, or it can do something about it. But there’s no sense in having a law on the books that’s not going to be enforced.
