Beauty. It's in the eye of the beholder. Portland blogger Jack Bogdanski doesn't like the "Yes on 49" signs that are cropping up around Oregon. He says, they look bad – contributors to visual blight.
Well, to me and most of our neighbors, they're gorgeous. Because they're intended to save our state from something really ugly: Measure 37.
About a week ago I picked up five bundles of Yes on 49 signs. They're the brainchild of signmeister David Adams, a follow-up to his Measure 37 "Fix It or Nix It" campaign. (The "Yes on 49" campaign also has lawn signs.)
This bunch went up on neighbor Wayne's property. He lives right across the street from a proposed 42-lot Measure 37 subdivision.
Lots of people in the area have water problems. Wayne had to replace his well after it went dry. He isn't wild about 42 new wells sucking water out of the aquifer he depends on. Especially when independent experts say there isn't evidence of enough water to supply the subdivision without harming current users. (But the subdivision was approved anyway.)
Neighbor Martin was happy to put up some signs also.
After taking that photo I crossed Liberty Road and snapped a shot of the groundwater limited farmland that Measure 49 would protect by limiting the Measure 37 claim to three home sites. The rest would be great for growing grapes.
Brother blogger Jack, I feel your pain about roadside signs. My wife and I hate billboards. Yet here's our Lake Drive frontage, plastered with Yes on 49 urgings.
Come November 7 I'll take them down. Hopefully with a big post-election smile on my face. Until then my artistic assessment is:
Beautiful.
[Update: Dave Adams' "Yes on 49" sign campaign got some good publicity on a Eugene TV station yesterday. Check out the KVAL story and video here.]
If they're legally placed on private property, the only problem I have with them is that they're unsightly. But the ones I've noticed in Portland aren't legal. They're on public property along the freeway. Bad form, on top of ugly.
Posted by: Jack Bog | September 14, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Jack, agreed. They should be on private property.
Posted by: Brian | September 14, 2007 at 05:31 PM
So they are unsightly. They are also privately produced, not part of a larger campaign. So they lack color and slickness. What they represent is an initiative by one person who recognizes the importance of what our land use system represents
Behind each and every one of those signs you can find a travesty of 37 at work. Measure 49 corrects the unanticipated consequences of Measure 37 while preserving the spirit and intent of the voters.
Posted by: Richard | September 15, 2007 at 07:15 AM
I am always stunned at the eagerness with which libs shoot arrows into their own peoples backs while adding arrows to the quivers of the enemy at the same time.
Go get em JACK
rwillum.
Posted by: rwillum | September 15, 2007 at 12:13 PM
This is where the knuckleheads behind measure 37 are in for a shocking surprise.
A large bulk of measure 49 votes will come from good Oregon citizens that are the farthest thing from "libs".
Where were you when the hearings were taking place at the capitol?!!!
Watching American Idol?
Many great Oregon farmers testified there.
I am not a "lib".
I want to do with my property what I could do when I purchaced it. I want to continue to farm.
I am voting for measure 49 to allow my fellow farmers to have some flexibility, while at the same time retaining Oregon's excellent land use planning.
Surprise! Surprise!
Measure 49 will be voted in by a vast amount of conservative Oregon voters.
:-Q
Posted by: HarryVanderpool | September 15, 2007 at 11:58 PM
The signs I've seen violate election laws, I plan to file a complaint on monday. Don't worry though, since it's a lefty cause, the yes on 49 folks will only get a hand slap.
Posted by: Bob | September 16, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Where did you get the Yes signs. I am in Bend and there seem to be no signs here. Is there an ofice over here or do I have to go to Portland office of the campaign?
Posted by: Larry Shaw | October 11, 2007 at 07:21 AM
Larry, the Yes on 49 web site has sign pickup info:
http://www.yeson49.com/2007/09/sign_depots.html
The listing for your area says:
Bend
1155 NW Harmon Blvd.(map)
Carol Macbeth — 541-382-7557 (call first)
Get some signs. And urge people to vote "Yes" on Measure 49.
Posted by: Brian | October 11, 2007 at 09:14 AM