By BizFed Founding CEO, Tracy Rafter
For years now the outdoor advertising industry has been working together with the city to find a legislative solution for digital signs in Los Angeles, and we hope that we are nearing a long-awaited resolution on the matter. On behalf of BizFed and the hundreds of business organizations we represent, we are eager to see a comprehensive sign ordinance come to fruition – one that allows for digital signs outside of sign districts on private property as well as public.
Hundreds of municipalities across the country have already adopted digital sign ordinances and have been benefiting from digital billboards as community engagement tools. For businesses, community organizations, public agencies and neighborhoods across the city, digital signs are important tools for public communication and community engagement. Digital billboards offer an opportunity to change messages in real-time, making it possible for advertisers, law enforcement and other public safety agencies to rapidly reach large audiences quickly and efficiently with important and sometimes truly lifesaving messages.
This is not a new conversation. We recognize the long history of this issue in the City of Los Angeles and encourage the City Council and staff to work with the outdoor advertising industry to restore the use of digital signs and craft a policy for their fair and reasonable use throughout the city on both public and private properties. It’s time to take action on this very important issue.
