Drivers blast San Jose’s plan to add digital billboards

QAbout San Jose’s plans to add digital billboards: The city should be doing everything it can to generate revenue. This is one way.

— Larry J.,

San Jose

ALarry, today you are in the minority over San Jose’s plans to consider adding up to 90 new digital billboards on private property, as well as some smaller signs, as reported by our Maggie Angst.

QThe last thing we need is more distracting, flashing lighted advertisements next to a busy freeway. … I hope this doesn’t happen. We live in a beautiful place. Why do we treat it so poorly? … This would be so ugly.

— David J., Jon Jones,

Sharon Simonson and countless others

ASince 1972, San Jose has prohibited the construction of new billboards on city-owned land, and in 1985, passed a citywide ban on new billboards. Proponents of the ban have long argued that they create visual blight, attract graffiti and negatively affect the environment and surrounding wildlife.

Under the proposed amendments, the city would allow private property owners to erect billboards on freeway-facing sites. As of May, the city had identified 90 potential sites — up from 50 in March. The sites primarily line Highway 87, from the airport down to Highway 85; Interstate 280 just south of downtown San Jose; and Interstate 880.

Officials are also considering allowing small digital billboards on cityowned land in the public right of way as well as building-mounted signage opportunities in downtown and North San Jose.

QDigital billboards are very distracting while driving. They are often very bright, and even if not, the changing wording and images can cause drivers to look at them far too long. I am for a lot fewer distractions while on the road.

The entire point of a billboard is to attract drivers’ attention. And electronic billboards increase that attention-grabbing effect. Why is this being seriously considered?

— S.S., San Jose

APerhaps this next letter gets at the readers’ chief concern … Q If the city insists on moving forward, they need some regulations on the brightness. The large billboard on Highway 85 and Almaden Expressway was blinding until so many people complained that they turned it down. Now the one on 101 north at 880 will blind you. It’s horrible.

— Reed M.

A

And…

Q

Whatever happened to Lady Bird Johnson’s Highway Beautification Act that was supposed to limit the number of ugly, distracting billboards on our highways?

— Larry J.

AIt’s still in effect. Lady Bird Johnson urged Congress to pass the Highway Beautification Bill in the 1960s. As she explained: “Ugliness is so grim. A little beauty, something that is lovely, I think, can help create harmony.”

Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat at noon Wednesday at www.mercurynews. com/live-chats. Contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com.