By: Diane Benjamin
See the original story – it was a guest editorial: https://blnnews.com/2019/05/16/guest-editorial-normal-needs-to-explain/
It turns out the writer was correct – those “Welcoming Signs” violate the Town code.
WGLT has a story quoting Chris Koos claiming the City code needs changed: https://www.wglt.org/post/koos-neighbor-signs-may-violate-town-code-0
It gets better!
The story links a unanimous (!) Supreme Court case about signs. Excerpts from that article: https://www.npr.org/2015/06/18/415537224/justices-give-officials-more-say-on-cars-plates-less-on-roadside-signs
If Normal wants this sign made legal in their City code, then ALL signs must be made legal:
Banning a sign like this one would violate the law:
Normal needs to decide if no signs should be allowed or all signs.
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The sign in question seems to be making a political statement. Could it be construed as a political sign and be subject to the same rules as a “Vote for Koos” sign ? But even then we have begun to skate into the thin ice arena known as “Freedom of Speech”.
sounds like a political sign to me. not only that it offends me and i demand it removed.
So does this mean I can walk down to my neighbors house and advise him that he needs to remove his stupid sign??
You can certainly advise him the sign is against local ordinance, but ‘needs to remove’ it is pretty strong since 1) the town won’t enforce the ordinance against those signs, 2) the ordinance is probably unconstitutional anyway, and 3) it sounds like the ordinance will be changing soon.
Well considering how they abide my the citizens comment rules at City Council meetings, I’m not holding my breath.
Looks like Bloomington has a 45 day limit for temporary signs. There are some which have been up for far longer than that. City needs to police this, too.
From the City Code
Chapter 3 : Section 8.2
(s) Temporary Signs. Temporary signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations, provided that said signs are posted only during said drive or no more than thirty (30) days before said event and are removed no more than fifteen (15) days after an event.
I was wondering when Bloomington would come.up!
Whatever happended with abNormal having to take down the red/white street signs?
They were removed from numbered state routes only due to some arcane state regulation. I’d reckon UofI got to skate on the same regulation.
here’s my question: who paid for the signs? who paid the workers to put up the signs? who paid for the workers to make the sign? if it was city workers used and the signs were paid for by taxpayers then the taxpayers have a right to demand the removal of the signs. i would also think this would be illegal use of taxpayer monies wouldnt it?
The YWCA has them, I don’t think the signs are local only