I'm no lawyer, but why Delgadillo was allowed anywhere near this case remains a mystery to me. He was elected to office in 2001 with the help of $424,000 in advertising space donated by -- don't choke on your omelet -- the billboard companies.
But Delgadillo can't be assigned all the blame.
Does anyone recall the City Council vote tally on Rocky's 2006 deal?
Twelve in favor, zero against. In case you were wondering, yes, the billboard companies have also been kind to council members at election time.
"Looking back now, this was not presented to us in the depth we would have liked," said Councilman Eric Garcetti, taking a poke at Delgadillo. "But that's my responsibility. I'm not going to lay that at the feet of the city attorney."
I thought he just did.
Councilman Jack Weiss said he too takes responsibility for not taking responsibility. Weiss, who is now running for city attorney, is at least currently trying to do something to prevent a proliferation of signs, as is Garcetti.
Weiss said he recently blocked a digital conversion on Ventura Boulevard in Encino, arguing that an electronic billboard would be out of compliance with the local zoning plan and the California Environmental Quality Act.
He's also trying to block so-called super-graphic ads draped from buildings all over town. Weiss said those monstrosities are an even bigger threat to the landscape than electronic billboards.
In a bad economy, Weiss said, building owners who are having trouble collecting rent will gladly collect thousands for turning their buildings over to advertisers. And advertising companies are rushing to take advantage of an injunction against a ban Weiss helped write into law.
Garcetti introduced a measure last week calling for the city attorney and the Department of Building and Safety to explore ways to limit electronic billboards that throw light into nearby homes and are out of character with the neighborhood. Like the one in his Silver Lake district.
"It's atrocious," he said.
The sign wouldn't stand out so much if it were in the heart of Hollywood or along a major commercial strip elsewhere in the city. But with just a few shops under the billboard, and houses and apartments all around, this behemoth is the definition of obscenity.
Come on, it's Silver Lake. You'd think the jugheads at Clear Channel would have at least had the sense to advertise high-top Converse sneakers and organic dog chow.
