Dear Editor,
Re: “New life for election signs,” Letters, Sept. 30.
Signs of desperation, sign of inaction.
Election time equals lawn signs around town; a fact of life.
It doesn’t bother me when a person wishes to show their support to their team as long as it is reasonable and it doesn’t become a nuisance.
My issue is more with the lack of enforcement from the City of Richmond regarding their own bylaw.
In past elections, the city swiftly enforced their Election and Political Signs, Bylaw 8713, by removing signs that were posted contrary to Bylaw 8713, article 1.2.
The city’s work crews simply removed the signs and the parties got the message that they ought to legally erect their signs or lose them.
The city’s inaction has now made the political signage a nuisance.
In a few words, the bylaw states that political lawn signs can be erected on a city-owned boulevard or right of way ONLY if it is immediately in front of a parcel used solely for residential purposes WITH the consent of the property owner.
Basically, in front of a residence; not in empty lots; not in front of a row of empty townhouses up for sale and certainly not in front of commercial properties.
Some political parties are considerate enough to abide to the bylaw, but for some, well you can see it around town that they are desperate; the signs are in front of commercial properties or in mall parking lots.
It’s not due to their lack of understanding of a simple bylaw, as this is not their first time around the block.
This is not the first election, nor the last, but the inaction from the Richmond bylaw department for this particular election is puzzling.
Complaints have fallen on deaf ears and no enforcement actions have been taken in 40 days.
The bylaw department stated that the only thing they can do is to contact the parties and ask them to abide to the bylaw.
So, how has it been working for you?
Brian Jones
Richmond
