Digital billboards threaten driver safety and runs counter to the city’s Vision Zero policy to eliminate traffic fatalities. Research studies have shown that digital billboards with changing content increase driver distraction over static billboards.

Although LEDs by themselves may be energy efficient, these energy intensive billboards require constant cooling and computer systems to operate continuously, and would be giant symbols of disregard for the City’s Climate Smart and Carbon Neutral 2030 policies.

Typically trees are razed for a clear line of sight to billboards from the freeway or major thoroughfares. For example, the airport plans to raze 43 healthy trees that currently act as a buffer between the freeway, Guadalupe River Trail, and the airport.

The airport billboards proposed adjacent to the Guadalupe River will negatively impact wildlife and the ecosystem, and are opposed by the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club.

Lick Observatory would be negatively impacted due to light pollution, similar to the Levi’s stadium Jumbotrons. Artificial light also negatively impacts human health.

Billboards typically advertise national branded consumer products, and only 10% of screen time may be devoted to city or community services.

Any proceeds from these billboards would be a tiny fraction of 1% of the City’s annual budget; is it worth the tradeoff for more visual blight and an assault on our quality of life?

Billboard companies are already threatening to sue the City and each other over these billboards. This risk of endless litigation does not appear to be factored into the cost/benefit calculation by City staff.

There are many contentious issues but billboards are clearly a public consensus issue and people from every Council district responded in opposition.