by: Maria Pouchnikova and John Buckner
On Thursday, December 9, 2010, the weekly meeting of the Philadelphia City Council took place. Opening with a prayer, the meeting started off with some awards and recognitions of people who have done some public good. Since Philadelphia’s modern government was founded in 1951, public opinion has not been allowed at the regular council meetings. For the past two weeks, Philadelphia taxpayers have been allowed to voice their opinions on issues before the council members. One such issue was the proposed installation of a 6 story LED billboard. This billboard is to be placed facing the Ben Franklin Bridge, visible as motorists enter Philadelphia.
Many local residents came out to let the council members know they do not want the new bill-board to be put up. Mary Tracy is president of the organization “Scenic America”. He organization fights for keeping America free of billboards and other “visual clutter” to maintain the beauty of the country. Mary strongly opposed the LED billboard and said like all billboards, it will be a “weapon of mass distraction.” Mary continued that the billboard will “use as much energy as 30 homes” and that “during the day, it will use more than that. “ Despite much outcry from the public on the issue, councilman Frank DiCicco stood firm on his support for the sign.
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