Diane raises an interesting issue. It is elmental that this is about money and probably alot of money. As I understand it, advertisers pay money to the billboard owners on the assumption doing so will put more money, your money, into the advertisers' pockets. The money recieved by the billboard companies is split with the property owners, usually peanuts and usually non-St. Paul residents, and the rest sent to corporate (yes mostly Texas) headquarters. If the advertisers assumption were to be challenged, were they to understand that the return may not be what they assume, well the whole system falls apart.

There are four states with no billboards. One is Hawaii (Alaska, Vermont, Maine). It is my understanding that long ago a group of like minded women, a garden club I believe, got together and organized a campaign along the lines Diane suggests. Soon no one would advertise and the boards became mostly worthless and the garden club bought out the industry. That coupled with laws preventing building new boards keep Hawaii free of "litter on a stick" to this day.

I believe, but do not know, that non-profit advertising is a bit different than "money driven" advertising. Many non-profits receive "free" or discounted advertising so that the industry can cover itself when attacked: "look what good citizens we are." And it may be difficult for non-profits to turn down the "free" exposure. Should non-profits understand the community at large objects, it may rethink its advertising policies.

Diane the "list" is self published - just look, carefully, toward the sky as you drive or walk.

Brian Bates, Scenic Minnesota, Mac/Grove
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

<<Wouldn't $150,000 be a small expense if that building could be turned into jobs and other 
uses, long term?>>

The word is not expense; the word is extortion.  How much
do you think they'll demand for the next one?  There is
a "billboard" on West 7th at Tuscarora that consists of about
three rusted sticks of metal -- that's it.  Fell down in a
storm six years ago, but because it "exists" now it's going
to be rebuilt.

I hope Scenic Minnesota starts a listing of billboard
advertisers so I know who not to patronize, and which
charities to send letters to with no checks.


Diane Gerth



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