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Your Representative is Alan Peake. He voted YES. Contact Representative Peake and ask him to change his vote on 164 to NO! At the Capitol... 504 Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; 404.656.0188 In the District... 103 Colony Court, Macon, GA 31210; 478.474.5633 – Office; 478.474.9105 - Home Talking Points: SB 164 is a bad bill because: It eliminates the language in the existing law that was carefully crafted to avoid creating an unconstitutional gratuity for the outdoor advertising industry and will result in more litigation and unnecessary legal fees for the people of this state. It removes all restriction on trees that may be cut on the rights-of-way. The current law protects all hardwood trees and softwoods that exceed a certain diameter. SB 164 removes all of these restrictions, giving the industry to power to cut down every tree in a viewing zone. It removes the five-year waiting period before a tree-cutting permit can be requested for a new billboard. The current law encourages the industry to pick sites for new locations that are free of trees, protecting the trees and the scenic beauty of our state. Under SB 164 no tree on the rights-of-way will be protected. The industry will have free rein to erect new billboards anywhere and everywhere, knowing that any tree can be cut at any time. It will allow the cutting of trees that were planted after January 1, 2009 even if they have been planted as a part of a beautification project sponsored by the state or a local government or some other community group. Since the five year waiting period for getting a permit has been eliminated under 164, this means that ten years from now the billboard companies can decide to put up a new billboard smack in the middle of a beautification project and cut down the trees. Simply put, SB 164 would give a private industry control over the public rights-of-way to use them as they see fit, even if it is contrary to the public’s interests. The people of Georgia are not in favor of SB 164. About a month ago, American Viewpoint conducted a poll of 500 registered voters and asked them this question: “Do you favor or oppose the State of Georgia allowing billboard companies to cut down trees on public property so that motorists can see billboards located on nearby private property?” The response was 72% OPPOSED to 24% in favor. Clearly an overwhelming majority, in fact, almost three-fourths, of the people are against SB 164. |
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Make Georgia's Highways Safer and More Scenic What's at Stake? Billboards threaten health, safety and scenic beauty along Georgia highways. The billboard industry has continually sought expanded privileges to destroy trees near their signs along nearly 160,000 acres of highway rights of way in Georgia, making the state less scenic, increasing air pollution and threatening water quality. Beneficial trees belonging to Georgians are removed without regard to the public's interests or adequate compensation under existing laws and regulations. Further, highways are made less safe by digital billboards - brightly lit, rapidly changing message signs that increase visual clutter and driver distraction. At stake is the future of the state's highway system. Will it become a wasteland of advertising signs, barren of trees and vegetation, and more dangerous for travelers? Or will Georgia's leaders resolve to make highways safer and more scenic by demanding responsible management of rights of way? Challenges This threat needs fighting on several fronts. The Georgia Legislature should continue to refuse any expanded tree-cutting privileges and pass legislation to further define Scenic Areas and establish Conservation Areas in which billboards will be prohibited. Involved citizens are working with Department of Transportation (DOT) as it reviews changes to billboard regulations, particularly those about digital billboards. The following obstacles need to be overcome: Power of billboard conglomerates that spend tens of thousands of dollars on lobbyists, political contributions, and other rewards in return for political support of private use of public rights of way ahead of public interests. Haste in permitting the erection and operation of digital billboards despite poten tial threats digital billboards pose to highway safety. Lack of understanding among some elected leaders about health and safety consequences of excessive outdoor advertising. These ill effects include increased auto crash rates and damage to land, air and water resulting from tree-cutting and construction. This degradation of Georgia's scenic beauty sacrifices its restorative value to quality of life. Next Steps Continue to work with DOT staff and board to strengthen billboard regulations, especially those relating to digital billboards, and to seek a moratorium on addi tional digital boards until reliable studies are conducted that inform safe permit ting requirements. Establish Conservation Areas on state rights of way and expand the definition of Scenic Areas along the rights of way to prohibit erection of billboards in such areas through legislation. Defeat any attempt under any guise to grant expanded tree-cutting privileges on rights of way and to strengthen the DOT Commissioner's discretion in granting vegetation management permits under existing laws and regulations. Ensure that the balance of the DOT Roadside Beautification and Enhancement Funds be spent to improve both the safety and scenic aspects of Georgia's high way rights of way. Increase designated Scenic Byway segments throughout Georgia. Fast Facts Georgia has approximately 160,000 acres of highway rights of way to improve for safety, health, and scenic beauty. The DOT Roadside Beautification and Enhancement Fund has more than $3 million available for rights of way improvement. Granting exclusive use of land and vegetation management privileges on rights of way adjacent to 9500 billboards throughout Georgia is diminishing the scenic beauty of our state. Digital billboards are a real threat to Georgia highway safety because of driver distraction and inadequate safeguards. For More Information: Campaign for Safe and Scenic Highways, Bob Hydrick The Garden Club of Georgia, Mary Lovings Scenic Georgia, Wilton Rooks Trees Columbus, Dorothy McDaniel |
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Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:59:58 -0400 To: BobHydrick@aol.com,teeth@mindspring.com,mermaidlover@bellsouth.net, shanberry@stratford.org,Fischer_DP@Mercer.EDU From: Holliday Dental <teeth@mindspring.com> Subject: Macon - Billboards, Re: Thanks Bob, It was our pleasure. Pic attached. Notes below. Thank-you, - Lindsay 11:24 AM 8/7/2009, Susan Hanberry wrote: Group (including Trees Columbus) organized around the 3 p's: Preserve Protect Plant Preserve = education in its broadest sense Protect = legal efforts and ordinances Plant = well, you know. Only 24% of Ga voters approve of billboard bill We need to start the push in nov/dec Vote was 89/74 the first time, and the bill was moved for reconsideration which is intended to be a face-saving vote, but will allow it to be brought up again and the industry will. Columbus delegation voted against. Bibb voted for (100%) # of bill boards: #1 Fla #2 Mich #3 GA 9500 in GA on interstates and at least 15% say for rent. Over capacity. Mass media is now in a personal age, while billboards are in the old age. What is desired: Only within 1/2 mile of an interchange, decrease by 15% (this is the over capacity) , Cap and trade: this is what Savannah does: must take down three old to install one new billboard, if it is a digital billboard must remove 5. Notes about Columbus and its success: hired and urban design/art team and paid attention to what they said. They said that the city had built a wall in front of its biggest asset: the river Opening up the river was the spark for downtown redevelopment 30 yrs ago Columbus wanted to grow up to be Macon, now it is the other way around. At 03:05 PM 8/6/2009, BobHydrick@aol.com wrote: Thanks for the time you spent with me last night. I enjoyed meeting you and having the opportunity to tell you a little about what we are doing. I appreciate your willingness to become involved with us in the cause. I look forward to getting together again in the near future and developing a plan of action. Thanks again for your hospitality and your help. |
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From: "Richard/Marie Andrews" <rmandrews@turbousa.com> Subject: Changes I learned about 5/22/07. Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 18:20:36 -0400 After our conversation of
5/21/07, Tony Sellier called the 22nd and apologized for not getting
back to me sooner. He stated that he is pursuing changes to the State
litter law to regulate unsolicited newspapers.He also told me two
states have passed laws to control litter and he is looking into what
measures they took. I told him I was disappointed with the
progress being made. The Sierra Club is willing to bring this to the
public's attention. Tony feels you would be instrumental in helping get
a law passed. I would appreciate the help you offered on 5/21. If you
are still agreeable, I will get the information you requested to
you in the near future. Please let me hear from you.
My email is : rmandrews@turbousa.com
Richard Andrews
956-4504 Lindsay Holliday <teeth@mindspring.com> (h) 742-6899, (w) 746-5695 (cell) 361-9526 Margaret Anne and George Carswell <magcarswell@cox.net> h 746-8316 Kathleen Ayerbe 757-0019 or cell 284-1004, 476-4500w <paul.ayerbe@LcaMacon.com> Paul's fax at work 476-9090 Krista Kortum 953-1183 Susan Hanberry <shanberry@stratford.org>, 477-8973 , h-474-4437 c 952-4590 Lee Mermaidlover Martin <poolshrk@bellsouth.net>, 750-7665 ,h- 745-0969, cell 952-4580 Wilson_John <bullsmountain@yahoo.com>, cell 972-2439 Tom Scholl <tomscholl@bigplanet.com> , 474 6793 cell-319-7492 Dan Fischer <fischer_dp@mercer.edu>, 477-3875 h, w 301-2489 cell 319-3108 Fred Gunter <hikerguy1@bellsouth.net>, 788-7355 "Robby Gibbs" , 788-6104, w 957-6066 , cell 501-4003 Frazer <FLively@WesleyanCollege.edu> 477-2430, w 757-5250 "Greg Gardner" <greggardner9@hotmail.com> Mercer Law 2nd year 743-4571 - has Sierra Leadership training |
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