electronic billboards

LA MESA LEADERS END E-BILLBOARD PLANS

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 13, 2023 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Mayor Mark  Arapostathis and Vice Mayor Laura Lothian introduced a motion at the Dec. 12 City Council meeting directing staff to terminate the request for proposals  (RFP)  for electronic billboards. By a unanimous vote, the City Council voted to reject electronic billboards and end the RFP,  following an ECM investigation that found a history of many serious traffic accidents where the billboards were proposed to be installed.

“After considering substantial citizen commentary and careful evaluation regarding this matter, we believe that the placement and installation of digital billboards in La Mesa is inappropriate at this time,” the agenda attachment for item 8.1 stated. “Therefore, rather than expend valuable staff time, resources, and effort processing the RFP, we request that the Council immediately (at this meeting) redirect staff to terminate the RFP and all related actions.”


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HOW DANGEROUS IS THE AREA WHERE LA MESA SEEKS TO ERECT DIGITAL BILLBOARDS?

Public records search by ECM finds 1,805 accidents, including 20 fatalities and 673 injuries from 2018 to the present

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – On Sept. 27, the La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 to ask staff to prepare a request for proposals to erect electronic billboards along Interstate 8 and potentially, other areas in the city.  The action reversed a July 25 vote, when Council rejected a similar proposal by a 3-2 vote. But after the measure was amended to assure revenues from billboards would be used primarily to fund police, firefighting and the arts, the Council majority opted to ignore concerns over public safety and approve soliciting proposals for the flashing advertising along the city's busiest freeway.

Supporters argued that the billboards would produce revenues needed by the city.

But Councilman Jack Shu, who cast the lone vote against the proposal, and other opponents argued that these flashing billboards could distract drivers, particularly near the busy interchange of I-8 and State Route 125 near Grossmont Center regional shopping mall.

How dangerous is that area already?  Council and staff failed to do their research.

To find out, East County Magazine (ECM) obtained public records from the California Highway Patrol.  Our editor requested data on accidents along I-8 east and west throughout the city of  La Mesa from  Lake Murray Blvd. on the west to  Chase Ave. in El Cajon,  since one billboard site would be near the La  Mesa/El Cajon boundary.  We also asked for data on accidents on onramps connecting I-8 and SR 125.

The data reveals that from  Jan. 1, 2018 to Oct. 10, 2023, there were 1,805 accidents in those locations.  Those accidents resulted in 20 fatalities and 673 injuries.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

LA MESA CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT FOR PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ALSO RECONSIDERATION OF ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS

By Miriam Raftery

September 23, 2023 (La  Mesa) –On Sept. 25, the La Mesa City Council will consider a staff recommendation to adopt a draft Project Labor Agreement with the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council and associated craft unions. The PLA would apply to public projects in  La Mesa with a construction value of at least $1 million.

PLAs are pre-hire collective bargaining agreements negotiated between construction unions and construction contractors that establish terms and conditions of employment for construction projects.

According to the U.S.Dept. of Labor’s PLA Resource Guide, PLAs are an effective tool to ensure timely completion of projects at or under budget,  provide employers with a reliable source of highly skilled workers,increase diversity and support equitable workforce development, and improve worker health and safety on the job.

Opponents of project labor agreements have argued that PLAs may increase cost by mandating union wages and restricting competition, are unfair to nonunion contractors and nonunion workers, and hinder use of employer training programs that are not union apprenticeships.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.