Comments on Advance Indiana™: Star Reader Asks, Why No Story On Billboards?

Looks like the Star heard you for once Gary. Front...

2008-01-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

Looks like the Star heard you for once Gary. Front page of the online Star.

About eight or nine years ago, a volunteer committ...

2008-01-18T15:49:00.001-05:00

About eight or nine years ago, a volunteer committee of citizens, about 60 strong, worked for months on a new signage ordinance. It was amended, but the final product was the result of thousands of hours of work by all kinds of interest groups and businesses. Including billboard companies.

Then lickety-split this company comes along and violates it. Others have violated it, too...

For many neighborhood groups, who work hard on zoning and related issues, it was just the last straw.

By the time 2007 rolled around, honestly, Bart's disingenuousness regarding neighborhood issues was palpable.

The Comp Plan was destroyed by multiple decisions by the incompetent hearing officer, Judy Conley. SHe should never have been appointed. And once appointed, her disasterous decisions should've gottne her fired, but Bart was afraid of King Ro. How's that workin out now for ya, Bart? The signage ordinance became a joke, unenforced all over the county.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of civic-minded citizens give of their time each month to work on zoning and signage cases. This single case, a stern violation of the ordinance, was a slap in the face to all those who worked so hard.

It's not like the rules are unknown.

Thank God Judy Conley didn't get to rule on this case, or the petitioner might get nine more billboards. What a tool.

Good Grief: when you actually know what you're talking about, phone something in.

Thank God those evil billboards are off the street...

2008-01-18T15:49:00.000-05:00

Thank God those evil billboards are off the streets and locked up so they can't harm anyone ever again. Might as well disband the police force, since the scourge of billboards has been vanquished.

good grief:Just because you can't be bothered to g...

2008-01-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

good grief:

Just because you can't be bothered to give a rat's ass about how your city looks, or about the rule of law, doesn't mean everyone feels the same way. I'd much rather have people driving in on the freeways get a view of the skyline than some tacky billboards. I don't want to see one company's greed spoil that.

but Petersons people did not enforce the court rul...

2008-01-18T14:40:00.000-05:00

but Petersons people did not enforce the court ruling!
Garyj may have been wrong about who "protected" the billboard company, but since Peterson did not follow the ruling and remove the billboards, the illegal activity was allowed to continue under Petersons Administration.

Ballard needs to step up and have the billboards removed, as per the court order.

To good griefGood Grief right back at you.I care a...

2008-01-18T14:27:00.000-05:00

To good grief

Good Grief right back at you.

I care and I'm not directly involved. Why do I care? Because it's about making sure people follow the law. It's also because there ARE community groups that do care and that are involved in this and I am interested to see who comes out on top. Why don't you care? Should Gary run everything by you to see if it directly affects you first?

Keep up the good work Gary.

Gary J, actually this is one the Peterson administ...

2008-01-18T13:18:00.000-05:00

Gary J, actually this is one the Peterson administration can't be faulted on. It is the city's attorneys who have fought this out in court at the direction of the Peterson administration. That task has now fallen to the Ballard administration, which agreed to a continuance requested by the Peterson administration before it left office to have more time to review the issue. Ballard personally assured me Sunday night that he has instructed his corporation counsel to carry out the court's order to remove the signs.

Good grief, Don't mistake your lack of concern abo...

2008-01-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

Good grief, Don't mistake your lack of concern about the issue for how many neighborhood groups feel about this issue. Based upon the feedback I've received from readers, they are quite pleased with my coverage of this issue. I've never met the owner and don't have a grudge against him. It comes down to the rule of law. Indianapolis' ordinance backed up by 3 Indiana Supreme Court rulings upholding are at issue here. And besides, it's my blog. Don't waste your time telling me what I should or should not write about, particularly when you are being provided the information for free.

It's not that nobody cares, as you put it, just th...

2008-01-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

It's not that nobody cares, as you put it, just that it's a non-story for the Indianapolis Star because Dennis Ryerson thinks it would cast a shadow on Bart Peterson, therefoe would not allow it to print.
This company skirted the law and court orders, under the protection of the Peterson regime.
Gary is not reporting this because he has something against the billboard company. He reports it because it shows that Peterson and his minions allowed this illegal activity to continue because there was somethingin it for them.

Same reason the pea-shake houses have been allowed to continue operations. Frank. Maybe something will happen with that, soon!

Gary, do you have a personal grudge against this b...

2008-01-18T12:33:00.000-05:00

Gary, do you have a personal grudge against this billboard company? It seems you have a new post about it every week or so and now you're railing about it not being front page news.

Quite frankly, I'd say the Star probably isn't covering it because nobody, save the few people directly involved in the dispute, really cares!

[Sorry, I hate to leave a negative post because I really enjoy your blog, but, honestly, this billboard blather is getting stale!]

AI, have there been any new developments lately on...

2008-01-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

AI, have there been any new developments lately on the billboard case?