Crist’s big sign catches attention, violates code (FL Gov's race)

[seafan]

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2006/10/crists_big_sign.html">Crist’s big sign catches attention, violates code

Kevin Graham, Times staff writer
Pctpber 23, 2006

TAMPA — The sign went up Saturday — a seven-story, full-color banner of a beaming Charlie Crist, dominating the side of a downtown office building.

The idea was to catch voters’ attention.

But it also caught the eye of Tampa’s top code enforcement official, who says the Republican gubernatorial candidate’s sign is illegal.

“We are going to cite the building owner and give them 30 days in which to move it,” Curtis Lane, Tampa’s code enforcement director, said Monday with a chuckle. “You know why I’m laughing, right?”

Because the election is 15 days away.

There was no word from the Crist campaign on whether it will take the sign down sooner to comply with the law. The campaign did not return a call about details of the agreement to hang the banner.

snip

A city ordinance requires that political banners receive a permit and limits their height to 18 feet. Lane estimated the Crist banner was at least 90 feet tall.

snip

The Crist banner, which is discernible up to 5 miles away at Raymond James Stadium, was placed on top of the gecko.

“I noticed it right off the bat,” said Sean Johnson of Tampa, as he stood across the street on the steps of the TECO Building plaza. “It’s a little over the edge if you ask me.”

snip

Charlie has a terrible case of overcompensation.

[MadMaddie]

1. Oh Dear....having to play by the rules is really hard for the Repugs

they only know how to cheat...

And those Banners are not cheap to make......!

[Spangle]

5. Cheat is Right. This had to be planned.

Everyone who deals with this sort of thing knows you have to get the permits just for small signs, etc. No way they could not have known their plan ran counter against the law. Hence, it had to be planned.

The owner of the property where big signs are, are notifed to remove it within a certin time frame.

Another words, they knew they could do it and get away with it.

THAT is the true scandle and what should be pointed out to everyone. The sign (AD) should represent HIS mind frame and the Republican mind frame. They believe they should be allowed to bluntly ignore the laws everyone else has to follow.

[Tarc]

2. How lovely

Nothing like a little cronyism (i.e. Mr. “You know why I’m laughing, right?”) to skirt the law for the sake of politics.

Fight fire with fire; get a couple of people up to the top floor, apply a few hacksaws to the ropes, and the problem will be solved.

[justinrr1]

4. good idea

I work very close to that building. I'll see what I can do. Bastards!

[donco6]

3. He looks like a GD fundie preacher.

Ugh.