How did we get here?

Back in 1972, then Mayor Norman Y. Mineta and the San Jose City Council banned new billboards on City-owned land, and that all existing billboards be removed from that land within a period of five years.

In 1985, the City Council extended the ban on new billboards city-wide. The ban was established after a three year study by the planning commission concluded that an “an abundance of billboards is “visual blight”, and that beautification was the best way to encourage economic development.

We believe that still holds true today, even though billboard lobbyists have convinced the current City Council and City staff otherwise and voted to repeal the sign ban in Sept, 2018 without significant public awareness or outreach.

Once residents started learning about the City’s plan to implement up to 112 digital billboards throughout San Jose, neighbors and people who care about our City started coming together in a unified opposition. A Steering Committee was formed, and we held our first neighborhood forum November, 2020 where dozens of concerned residents voiced their concerns, and we strategized how to address the situation.

We started attending City Council meetings, City sub-committee meetings, met with individual council members & City staff. We also met with leaders of several neighborhood associations and local advocacy organizations to raise awareness and enable folks with tools on how to voice their opposition.

In February, 2021, we scored our first major win by convincing the City Council to table or deprioritize allowing new digital billboards on private property (aka Phase 2). However, at the same meeting they allowed City staff to continue pursuing opportunities on City-owned property (aka Phase 1).

During November, 2021, our supporters made another impact by emailing or speaking at both the Airport Commission and City Council meetings, opposing the proposed digital billboards at San Jose International Airport. The Council failed to muster enough votes during the meeting, but kicked the can down the road by sending the proposal back to the Airport Commission for further review.

The ongoing battle to preserve the aesthetics, cultural integrity, and environment of our city. Check out our other tabs for more information and how you can help make a difference.