Billboards vs. trees — which has your support?
An intense political war returns to the state legislature Thursday — the one between billboards and trees, writes AJC reporter Ariel Hart.
Under House Bill 179, billboard owners could clear-cut state-owned trees from in front of their signs, so that drivers can better see the advertisements, Hart reports.
It’s a colorful war, Hart says. Ladies in green jackets and scarves – the signature attire of the Garden Club of Georgia — have swarmed the legislative committee hearings, arguing the bill will leave swaths of highway bereft of oaks, sycamores and other trees that now are protected.
Heavy-hitter lobbyists swarmed back, responding that jobs and hard-earned profits are at stake, Hart reports.
Which side are you on? Why?
Should the trees stay up?
Should sign owners just raise the signs?
Will jobs be jeopardized?
- Henry Unger, The Biz Beat
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88 comments Add your comment
Southside Shawty
February 24th, 2011
8:30 am
All these business folks have to scream is the word ‘jobs’ and the sheeple will fall over each other in agreement. Driving down 75 in South Georgia is already a disgrace for people who live in this state, at least for me. Now these ‘businessmen’ want to clear cut acres of trees so more drivers can see the number of brothels and ’spas’ in this state. Instead of whining about Sunday sales, maybe the Talibaptists should worry about all the wh*re houses down near Perry.
Craig
February 24th, 2011
8:34 am
I’d like the trees to be cut and the signs lowered. Cutting trees will look a lot better than signsabove the tree tops.
Road Scholar
February 24th, 2011
8:38 am
Southside : Agreed! The “picket fence” of billboards in south Ga and elsewhere in this state is an embarrasment. Can’t the billboard industry just understamd the word NO! Will the bill allow for the clear cutting of billboards? And the proposal to reduce the per cut tree fee based on their expense to cut the trees is priceless!
But the most priceless item is the election of a billboard owner to the GDOT Board! Oh sure, he pledges not to get involved…yeah right! It’s like assigning a pimp to a children’s welfare and rights commission!
Bill Todd
February 24th, 2011
8:38 am
I fear that the deal is already done, and that high-powered lobbyists with sound-bite code words will prevail over earnest ladies from garden clubs. Compare and contrast the cul-de-sac I-185 to Columbus with its main artery I-85 around Newnan, where there is a giant sign every few hundred feet. One actually has to strain to view the scenery between the signs. It’s very sad. I make a special effort NOT to read these signs, and if I accidentally gaze at the message on one, I go out of my way to avoid that merchant.
Donaldd
February 24th, 2011
8:42 am
All the billboards on Georgia’s highways are a shame and embarrassment to our otherwise beautiful state. As in many other states, why not have one large sign near each interstate exit for businesses to advertise? The billboard lobby must be very influential; and it goes without saying that it’s all about money.
Joyce Corbin
February 24th, 2011
8:52 am
The bottom line is the signs are ugly and an embarassment. The South has always had beauty and charm but the signs down 75 and 95 are a disgrace and now they want to cut trees! Do you really need to be a rocket scientist to see the ugliness of them? Get real here, people are going to stop when and where they choose with or without ugly signs.
martha
February 24th, 2011
8:55 am
don’t cut the trees — don’t raise the signs — quite simple
pj
February 24th, 2011
9:03 am
NO.
Gary
February 24th, 2011
9:07 am
I am not a tree hugger, but those signs are a total eyesore. Take them all down. Love going to towns and states that do not allow road signs or limit their impact.
GA Driver
February 24th, 2011
9:11 am
IF the fix is in by billboard lobby, then there is still room for comprimise. I’ve driven over large portions of I-75 Tennessee and Florida. Nowhere but by home state have the billboards taken on such gargantuan proportions. Even my kids ask why the signs are so tall you can’t even read them.
I have no illusions of ever getting rid of billboards in Georgia, but bringing them back down to eye level and limiting the size and spacing of them is entirely possible under Constitutional law. The state and local governments can generally regulate the size and appearance, but not the content. Since taxpayer dollars and GDOT maintanence make the abutting waste property valuable for billboards in the first place, quid pro quo is possible and should be expected by our lawmakers. Selectively cut trees, IF the size and spacing are regulated back down to to ground level. Just because someone tells you to jump doesn’t mean you have to.
Brad Steel
February 24th, 2011
9:11 am
Is this a practical joke?
It must be. It is too stupid to be otherwise. The proposed law should be one outlawing billboards. They look like crap and do nothing for anyone. Billboards are awful.
Jobs What a canard!!! They should have stuck with their freedom of speech BS. At least, they could have gotten the Tea Party sheep to join in their chorus of indignation.
e
February 24th, 2011
9:20 am
NO tree cutting! NO MORE stupid billboard pollution. I make a point of not patronizing any business or venue that uses billboards to advertise.
SteveK
February 24th, 2011
9:21 am
Maybe we could require billboard companies to pay to plant 10 big trees elsewhere in Georgia for each billboard they put up. Our highways will look like junk to us but all the Republicans see is $. They’d sell their mother for money. Legilators should also be required to wear NASCAR-like jackets showing the top 10 companies that donated to their re-election campaign. Then we would understantd the laws that are being passed.
Kathy Harris
February 24th, 2011
9:36 am
TREES, TREES, TREES!!!! Trees are a vital part in the maintenance of the ecosystem that supports life – our lives. Billboards are an eyesore at best, and blatantly offensive at worst (ex. “All nude dancers!” on 85-S)
Rick
February 24th, 2011
9:39 am
Leave the trees; take down the signs. I will never patronize any business who has cleared the trees from around their tacky billboards.
SteveO
February 24th, 2011
9:39 am
They should cut all the trees down and put up even more billboards! That way travelers coming down I-75 can take note of the businesses that North Georgia is built on – truck stops and topless babes!
Ken Henson
February 24th, 2011
9:50 am
Large trees and trees planted by local governments are currently protected.HB 179 eliminates this protection.Only trees 75 years old or permitted trees are protected.99.99% of trees planted as part of local plantings were not permitted.Who decides if tree is 74 years old and can be cut or is 75 and can not be cut? The Billboard owner gets to decide the age.In future no local government can plant tree within 500 feet of a billboard and this will stop most local beautification programs.
This bill has new mandates on GDOT and will increase GDOT costs to administer program.Taxpayers will also give credit to billboard owner for taking down a dilapidated sign.This is another corporate welfare bill.Taxpayer pays for program and Billboard owner gets to cut state owned trees.Nobody would pay their neighbor to come on their property and cut their tree.
Ima Greedmonger
February 24th, 2011
9:53 am
Our political hacks, paid off by the billboard greedmongers, have already made Georgia one of the trashiest states in America. Now they want to make it even more unsightly by bulldozing the few trees we have standing beside our highways.
Ed
February 24th, 2011
9:53 am
I find it amusing that all of these peope state they won’t patronize business that advertise on billboards. I guess they don’t go to doctor’s offices, fly on airlines, watch TV, listen to the radio, eat food or drink Coca Cola amongst many others.
itsme
February 24th, 2011
9:54 am
Trees are necessary. Billboards are not.
MCB
February 24th, 2011
9:59 am
The billboards Georgia already has are enough of an eyesore. They pollute what otherwise would be lush and beautiful landscape. When I drive in from other states and suddenly billboards begin appearing like weeds, I sigh and think to myself oh great…I’m back in Georgia. Don’t we have enough billboards already? Is it even possible for Georgia to get any more tacky? These are questions I ask myself all the time. This article comment in particular I disagree with: “The fact is, outdoor advertising attracts people who are traveling through our state to stop and spend money in our state,” Poe said. Here’s a fact for you. Imagine how many tens of thousands of drivers, myself included, ignore these monstrosities. I find it hard to believe that billboards are an “attraction” to incoming visitors from other states. I should have shirts made that say “Welcome to Atlanta, Land Of Billboards.”
Where is the data that shows how many accidents billboards cause? Billboards are not an attraction, they are a distraction! Our tourist slogan should be changed from “every day is an opening day” to “come stare at our numerous billboards while you sit in our traffic”.
Doesn’t anyone remember a few years back when the tornado came through and that billboard collapsed and crushed all those cars?? Have we honestly lost our minds??
If you travel up 400, Alpharetta has done a great job keeping billboards from polluting the countryside, and the effort they are putting in to beautify the on and off ramps especially along Windward Parkway is greatly appreciated and looks spectacular. Unfortunately, just to the north is Cumming, the sellout city when it comes to billboards. This place and Atlanta share several similarities. Everywhere you look another billboard is being put up, and the video billboards are a nightmare when they blind you at night. Why not repurpose them to show parking information, current and upcoming weather, or perhaps a tranquil forest as a remembrance of what once existed on that spot.
Here’s a solution. Get rid of ALL billboards. Get a crane and a cutting torch and get rid of each and every last billboard in Georgia. I would never move to a town that was inundated with billboards, in fact, I would make it a point NOT to give any of my business to the places and services advertised.
As long as there’s people willing to line their pockets with money for destroying the beauty of our state, and as long as we sit back idly and let this happen, billboards will continue to spread like a cancer.
Ellen Fix
February 24th, 2011
10:00 am
Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont BAN billboards altogether throughout these beautiful states. Whatever “job losses” might occur as a result of restricting billboard placements is certainly made up with the rise in tourism fostered by preserving trees — a part of the scenic attraction that encourages people to visit those states.
TnGelding
February 24th, 2011
10:05 am
Trees! This is a no-brainer. There are many other better ways to advertise in this day and age. Certainly the trees could be trimmed on existing billboards. But advertising cost us all money. It doubles the price of some products.
Inman Parker
February 24th, 2011
10:15 am
The billboards here are really bad. When I bring people in from out of state that is one of the first things they comment on, and not in a positive way. There has to be a more organized, less obstructive way for these businesses to advertise without ruining the natural feel of north Georgia. Why does it have to be one or the other?
Concerned
February 24th, 2011
10:21 am
Trees! Billboard companies can already lower signs under current law. We cannot keep baiiling businesses out of bad decisions. They need to step up and be responsible. We should give away our public resources.
Don Daniel
February 24th, 2011
10:23 am
If billboard owners can cut trees on state taxpayer owned property, does that allow me to go on state property to cut wood for my fireplace, wood stove, tree posts, etc?
CJ
February 24th, 2011
10:24 am
Our Republican legislature at work! What the h—, cut the trees, drill for oil, kill some dolphins too while you’re at it. Maybe baby panda bears.
Oh yeah, and we DEFINITELY need guns in churches. BRILLIANCE AT WORK!
Showme Kid
February 24th, 2011
10:27 am
Why can’t a compromise be reached where the people cutting down a tree which is blocking a billboard be required to plant other trees similiar to the requirements for other developments?
red ryder
February 24th, 2011
10:41 am
all the legislators should be required to ride up I-85 north thru Franklin County and see how badly these huge signs have ruined the view along our highways. ban them all !!!!!
What?
February 24th, 2011
10:45 am
Create jobs? how so? It’s a 15 minutes of fame job: remove the trees and you’re back on unemployment. Considering most people don’t want to take hard labor jobs, it sounds like a bunch of buzz words from idiots who shouldn’t be allowed in the legislative floor in the first place. I’m looking at you, lobbyists. Full of hot air and money, just like those people you’re pleading to. Disgusting.
Definitely save the trees and clear-cut the billboards. Ever been on a cross-country road trip, lobbyists? It’s not the billboards you remember, it’s the landscapes.
ncgreybr
February 24th, 2011
10:48 am
I agree with Ellen Fix completely and couldn’t have said it better! “Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont BAN billboards altogether throughout these beautiful states. Whatever “job losses” might occur as a result of restricting billboard placements is certainly made up with the rise in tourism fostered by preserving trees — a part of the scenic attraction that encourages people to visit those states.”
If they can do it and still have jobs why can’t we? Where do you think those jobs are going to go? To China? Because they have billboards?
Georgia COULD be a beautiful state again.
WT
February 24th, 2011
10:51 am
I don’t think anyone believes that billboards of the type you see on the interstate are of any worth whatsoever. Appearance, Size, design, scale – they are the dumbest and ugliest imaginable. Limit it to the signs at exits telling you what stores are there. Billboards in urban areas (Times Square or Tokyo) can be very cool and add to the street life. But not on the interstate, and not at the expense of trees. I like the areas of the interstate where there are no billboards, and hate all the areas mentioned above (S I-85, N of the city on 85 and 75)
globeflyer
February 24th, 2011
10:52 am
I lived in Maine for three years (they don’t have any billboards) and it is like driving in a National Park. When we drove across the line into N.H. or Mass., it was a shock and seemed garish. I guess if you’ve never driven in a state without them, you can’t really appreciate it, but it would suit me fine if they lowered all the signs and stopped cutting any trees. Lets face it, there are nowhere near as many jobs associated with billboards as the “industry” touts.
NC
February 24th, 2011
10:53 am
The drive down 75 is south Georgia is horrible. Billboards everywhere. The billboard congestion is so bad that it can be seen from the air when flying from Atlanta to Valdosta. I do not believe that eyesores are the best way to market our state to visitors traveling through. Ban billboards on interstate highways altogether.
NO BILLBOARDS
February 24th, 2011
10:54 am
BIllboards are UGLY anywhere. They should be eliminated. I NEVER STOP OR BUY ANYTHING FROM BILLBOARD ADVERTISERS. Stop patronizing those who pay for billboards.
Painted Black
February 24th, 2011
10:56 am
The bill is bad public policy, plain and simple. It has no place in Georgia. Billboards are as hazardous to drivers as texting. Yet these devices are INTENDED to distract motorists, whereas distractions from cell phone usage is merely a consequence.
Ad Boy
February 24th, 2011
10:57 am
I work in advertising and I can tell you that outdoor boards are a thing of the past and our clients are no longer interested in it as a medium for reaching their target markets. But the OAAG (Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia) would have us believe different. Why? Because the jobs they are talking about saving are their own.
Painted Black
February 24th, 2011
11:00 am
On the other hand, sure – why not. The highways, paid for with public funds, already subsidize the auto makers, the tire makers, and every other opportunist who figures out how to latch-on to the public teat. What harm could be done by accomodating another leech?
Ghostrider
February 24th, 2011
11:02 am
I say take those ugly ass Billboards down…..Trees have a purpose…
JJ
February 24th, 2011
11:04 am
I agree with most of the posts here…I deplore billboards. I think they are such an eyesore and completely unnecessary. My husband and I (very much a Southern gal!) vacationed for a week in Vermont and found it to be a beautiful state. Plus, we were able to find gas stations, restaurants, area attractions, etc. just fine. Folks are right…many billboards in GA just advertise the next “spa” down the road and have nothing to do with legitimate employment and industry. I cannot understand why anyone with any common sense (Do legislators still have any?) would support billboards over trees. Plus, many are so huge…sounds like someone in this industry is trying to compensate for some type of shortcoming! Also, I support Sunday alcohol sales!
JP
February 24th, 2011
11:06 am
Don’t worry, legislators will cave to the billboard lobby. We could show a poll that says 99% of citizens in this state don’t want trees cut to make way for billboards and the legislators would stilll screw the public over.
Small Gov't My A##
February 24th, 2011
11:08 am
What is there to discuss? NO, NO, and NO. Billboards are an eyesore. Why does “pro business” automatically mean that every square inch of the PUBLIC (re: not “commercial”, but “public”) SPACE is fair game for advertising? Why do we have to be subjected to private businesses trying to sell us CRAP everywhere our eyes happen to land? Why is this acceptable? Why is this considered a “right” of business? The “jobs” argument is thugish extortion-speak demagogary and is a perversion of the discourse, but they aren’t interested in a dialog, they just want what they want and will lie, cheat, and steal to get it no matter what.
WHY DO PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESSES THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORCE ADVERTISING ON THE CITIZENS EVERYWHERE, ANYWHERE, IN ANY FORM, FOR WHATEVER PRODUCT, AT WHATEVER TIME, PERIOD?
Why is that? Where is the public benefit? Why don’t the citizens have a right to refuse and regulate it? (because we all know how this is going to turn out, right?)
It’s not like it creates a competitive disadvantage if ALL billboards suffer the same fate. What part of PUBLIC LAND, PUBLIC TREES, PUBLIC RIGHTS don’t they understand? They take the public resources so they can make their private profits? Bull$#!T. Privatize the profits, but socialize the losses (in this case, the public resources, land, trees, quality of life, etc).
Pathetic.
Appalled
February 24th, 2011
11:26 am
Trees, clean air and water and a beautiful state add many more jobs than tacky billboards.
Blah-Blah-Blah
February 24th, 2011
11:32 am
It should be required that all billboard verbiage be in Dutch and that the signs are turned inward. They should also spin in the wind and be connected to turbines, thus generating electricity to light the highways during daylight hours. Remember to turn your rain-flashers on when driving in sunny conditions. A point to ponder: If roads were paved with trash, would litter be eliminated?
DC
February 24th, 2011
11:36 am
This same proposal seems to be introduced every few years and has, thankfully, been routinely defeated. Looks like the billboard proponents have crafted their argument using the bad economy as a hook this time. So let me get this straight: the taxpayers pay taxes which GDOT then uses to beautify the roadways by planting trees and maintaining the right-of-ways. These tasks alone represent thousands of jobs, not to mention income generated for the the tree growers for supplying trees, trucking companies for delivery, equipment operators for installation, etc. Now we are asked to give the billboard companies preferential permission to come back and cut the same trees down so they can disfigure our roadways while creating only a handful of jobs? And all of this for what? So that passing motorists will be appropriately advised of yet another discount motel ahead, which, incidentally, has it’s own gigantic sign out front?
pro bidniz
February 24th, 2011
11:37 am
I think our legislature should change our official nickname from the ‘Peach State’ to
the ‘Billboard State”. We may be last in a lot of things but we are number one in roadside advertising!
Blah-Blah-Blah
February 24th, 2011
11:40 am
Without billboards, how would we know where to exit? All those asian spas and so little time. Have you no compassion for the Pecan Log?
DwayneL
February 24th, 2011
11:45 am
No way trees should get cut down for billboards! Period!
Blah-Blah-Blah
February 24th, 2011
11:47 am
And one last thing. How would one know they were approaching the state line heading either north or west without the WORLD’S CHEAPEST FIREWORKS billboards.
Come on people, think for a change.
rlm
February 24th, 2011
11:47 am
Another reason to get rid of billboards entirely
Mark schisler
February 24th, 2011
11:48 am
I remember when 75 used to be pretty green with lots of nice trees. Then the first selective tree removal bill was passed and so many trees were either cut or trimmed horribly. Now you see the backs of shopping centers and warehouses. Now large swathes of dirt are exposed which capture trash and are difficult to maintain. Now the billboard companies want to remove virtually all the trees. Enough! I am heartened to see the vast majority of respondents on this comment page oppose the tree removal. In fact most want the billboards removed! Not the trees!
T Kelly
February 24th, 2011
12:11 pm
Trees should NEVER be cut for a sign. I can’t imagine anyone reading those signs; especially when driving. I never have in 50 years of driving.
It is morally wrong to cut trees when the world needs the oxygen they produce and co2 the trees remove from the air.
trees gotta go
February 24th, 2011
12:22 pm
the more trees cut the better. cut trees if they are in the way.
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February 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
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Vince
February 24th, 2011
12:35 pm
Georgia is a laughingstock among the states when it comes to our billboards. They are ugly and an embarrassment.
Years ago I made a pledge not to give my traveling business to any service or store that uses billboards for advertisement.
Let’s not just gripe about the problem however, …let’s all write our legislators and let them know we are watching how they vote on this bill.
I’m not sure why we have given billboard companies the perks they enjoy now. With every concession that is given to them, they come back in a few years and want more. They should not be allowed to cut ANY tree on public land….no matter how small. Laws should be in place that disallow boards over a certain height…they are dangerous, a distraction, and too high to read anyway.
Competitor?
February 24th, 2011
12:45 pm
Sounds like the AJC is providing multiple platforms for a few to bash its advertising competitor. No one is addressing the enormous deficit the state faces and ideas for increasing sales tax revenue. The question should be if these existing signs promote local businesses how much additional sales tax revenue will it generate? Can this effort save /create jobs? Is there a low growing vegetation alternative?
Conservative Republican
February 24th, 2011
12:52 pm
As a conservative Republican, I am very strongly opposed to the billboard bill. The idea of further desecrating the beautiful state of Georgia by cutting trees to display billboards is moronic. By the way, my conservative friends agree with me on this. And we vote!
Matt
February 24th, 2011
12:52 pm
Clear Channel and their ilk don’t care about anything but their own bottom lines. Nobody is tearing down billboards to plant trees so we should defend our beautiful state while we still can. I really hope our law makers read these posts!
willydoit?
February 24th, 2011
12:57 pm
I was on the side of the billboard companies until reading all the posts in this discussion.
After thinking about it, we use our GPS to find pretty much everything we need when we are traveling, therefore, there’s no need in searching the skies for the Cracker Barrel sign anymore.
Billboards are outdated!!
Typical Redneck
February 24th, 2011
1:10 pm
Make the billboard companies pay for the timber if they must cut the trees. As others have stated, the amount of billboards in GA is an embarassment to our beautiful state.
rodertrudis
February 24th, 2011
1:19 pm
I can sum it up in three words: Butt Naked!
Bubba
February 24th, 2011
1:35 pm
As long as the bill is fair and even-handed and also allows the public to cut down signs on private land, then I’m for it.
Slim
February 24th, 2011
1:47 pm
I make plenty of money form the billboard guys. With that extra money, I’ve been able to afford a better brand of Meth and I know where the Bare all girls work. I bet you didn’t even know that some of those places even have American girls.Dayum… So y’all just chill out or you’ll never know where to get a pecan log.
Buckeye
February 24th, 2011
1:58 pm
My gosh, the sky is falling. Dooley vs. Herscel. Whoda ever thunkit?
Horatio Sanz
February 24th, 2011
2:02 pm
Is this a joke?
Hell no, I don’t think billboard owners should be able to cut down trees on public land. It’s sad that this “debate” has even got this far.
big tom
February 24th, 2011
2:05 pm
England doesn’t allow billboards. The visual effect of that is amazing when driving through their countryside. Wish our country was like that.
PTC Bernie
February 24th, 2011
2:07 pm
Billboards are an eyesore at best, and an accident causing distraction at worst. Who wants to look at a trashy roadside view with a relentless bombardment of useless lawyer’s ads and “Free Extra Basket of Wings on Tuesdays!” ? Spend the money on having your business come up higher in a web search. More and more people are using smart phones for searching out places to eat and entertainment, to name a few.
big tom
February 24th, 2011
2:07 pm
Bubba, that is hilarious. Good point! And fair.
dawg
February 24th, 2011
2:17 pm
Herschel,
As a UGA alum and big fan of yours, I’m extremely disappointed that you would side with the billboard companies on this issue.
REM
February 24th, 2011
2:20 pm
Leave the trees alone! Take a drive through Maine or New Hampshire. Their roadways are not littered with this unsightly crap every 500 yards.
notjustduckierightnow
February 24th, 2011
2:31 pm
I would urge all you wonderfully funny (sincerely!) writers to take the next step and use your wit to contact your representatives. You can use the following link to determine who your Georgia General Assembly Senate Rep is: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress
Mo info
February 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
More billboards are needed on the highways—it’s hard to find the information I need any other way, especially when my iphone is out of range.
Signs`
February 24th, 2011
2:52 pm
Don’t cut the trees . . . cut the posts that all existing signs are on. We need to ban these ugly billboard signs altogether!
Signs`
February 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
@Horatio . . .I wonder how many of our elected officials have an “interest” in billboard signage???
Skreet
February 24th, 2011
3:05 pm
The citizens of Georgia show terrible disrespect for her natural resources and it is extremely unfortunate.
KB
February 24th, 2011
3:43 pm
Maybe we can abandon some old cars and scatter some rusty auto parts around the signs too….then we can have all the condiments on the sh*t sandwich that is our highways. Way to go state government.
David
February 24th, 2011
6:12 pm
Whatever happened to the trees are the lungs of our planet? Well at least we will have the billboards standing when global climate change turns the southeast into a drought stricken desert…that should be good for business…
ignorant, much?
February 24th, 2011
7:26 pm
it appears that the AJC doesn’t like to post comments that support this bill. I submitted one earlier but it was apparently “overlooked”. I’ll make this short and sweet…I am employed by a billboard company. It puts food on my table and a roof over my family’s head. My company does not advertise stip clubs or spas but I could list dozens of public service ads that we have run. Go ahead and cut those billboards, but I bet if your child was missing, you would wish those “tv” billboards that are such a “monstrosity” were littering our interstates and highways then plastering information and pictures of your child. After all of you have gotten rid of all the devilish billboards in the state, I and every other billboard company employee will be standing in the unemployment line and all you “taxpayers” will be having to support us…but, hey, you can all give yourselves a big pat on the back for saving those trees! As I’m uprooting my kids from the home they’ve grown up in because we can no longer afford it, I’ll explain to them that it is okay because the tax payers trees along the interstate are safe (until the state decides to widen the road and take them all out anyway). As I’m dropping my dog off at the pound because we can’t afford to feed her anymore, I’ll look at her and say “It’s okay, the taxpayers interstate trees are safe” – which I bet will make my children stop crying too, don’t you think?
Anyway, you guys keep rallying – save those trees! The several hundred Georgia employees who depend on the income they earn working in the billboard industry will just be waiting in the wings.
ignorant, much?
February 24th, 2011
8:22 pm
Enter your comments here
Vince
February 24th, 2011
10:23 pm
@ignorant, much?
I do not wish your family ill will, but trying to justify desecrating the state scenery so you can keep a job is not an adequate argument. Sorry. By the same reasoning, let’s hire people to cut down every tree in the state, or to pave park land. Think about it.
TnGelding
February 25th, 2011
12:19 am
Go plant a tree if you want work.
robbie
February 25th, 2011
7:42 am
I feel there should be no more tree cutting and that the fees for those that are cut should be increased significantly. Seems the majority also feel this way but I won’t hold my breath for this to happen. This issue is representative of our good ole boy state and how they screw the citizens every time. No wonder the nation looks down upon us.
getyourown
February 25th, 2011
2:45 pm
I am very disappointed in Georgia’s politicians. I can’t believe they honestly think that cutting down trees in favor of billboards is good for Georgians, will create jobs, and save lives. Shame on you!
FedUp
February 25th, 2011
3:54 pm
This bill is appalling on many different levels. First, the trees belong to the PEOPLE of Georgia. These fascist fools who are supposed to represent us have absolutely no authority to give away OUR trees to a bunch of thieving corporations and banksters. Secondly, when family members or friends drive to Georgia to visit me one of things they have always remarked on is how beautiful the drive through Georgia is with all of the trees that line our highways. You cut our trees down then you completely alter the natural beauty of the state. We would look more like Oklahoma or Kansas than Georgia.
Everyone needs to fight this by sending off emails, letters and calling the Senators and Gov Deal to let them know that supporting this is political suicide. This isn’t a Democrat vs Republican issue. I have been a Republican for most of my life and oppose this as does most of my Republican friends. If you look at the vote record you will also find that a lot of Democrats voted for this as well. If there is one thing that really unites Georgians it’s when they start messing with our beautiful tress…
Ignorant, much?
February 25th, 2011
4:16 pm
Vince, I find it so refreshing that you think that a few interstate trees are more precious than mine and all other billboard co. employee’s livelihood. What if the people you worked for decided to close the your office, knock down the building andt plant a tree farm and eco conservation. Would you feel okay in losing your job because it was helping the environment by ADDING trees?
And TnGelding – kiss my @$$! I’ll leave the self rightious tree hugging to you. Why, it must be difficult to get internet in that teepee you live in. I mean, I know you must have been completely opposed to any lots being cleared of trees for a family home. Do you have indoor plumbing in that hut?
Robbie – FYI – if you cut down a tree and took it to the mill you would be paid fair market value of $100. If a billboard company wanted to cut down the same tree, we would pay over $2000. That is after a 1000% mark up on the cost per tree cut, application fees, tree trimming/ or cutting fees, and hiring a state licensed arborist. Trust me, there is a mark up and the state maks a king’s ransom on it.
FedUp
February 25th, 2011
5:18 pm
@Ignorant, much? – we’re not talking about just a few trees here, if this thing goes through virtually every tree along the interstates will be cut. They want these ugly ass billboards to be visible from long distances. That means they will need to clear cut large swaths of trees to get that visibility. When you factor in the number of billboards and the bends/curves/hills/valleys in the interstate roads you’re talking about the majority of trees being taken out. And comparing clearing land to build houses to what this bill will allow is comparing apples to oranges. Private land is cleared to build houses, the land along the interstates is public land that by law is supposed to be protected.
Vince
February 25th, 2011
8:33 pm
@ ignorant much
Thank you. If my office caused a blight on the landscape and made Georgia a laughingstock then, yes. I would say bulldoze it and plant some trees in its place. I would be proud to find another job.
I like Bubba’s response. Go ahead and let the bb companies come onto public land a cut down the public’s trees, but in turn allow the public to go onto private land and cut down billboards.
I’m not sure who ever thought it would be a good idea to put distracting signs along a busy interstate. He/she must have either been a tow truck operator or a body shop mechanic.
Still remember having to try to explain to my 6 and 8 year old kids, on their way to Disney World, what the hundreds of WE BARE ALL signs meant.
govt free
February 26th, 2011
9:47 pm
companies should be able to put up billboards whereever they want. The government shouldn’t be able to tell you where you can advertise—it’s a violation of free speech.