Criticism of San Jose's Plan to Add New Billboards to the City

San Jose banned new billboards in 1985, but a proposal making its way through the planning department would allow for a wave of new billboards in the city. One local columnist isn't buying it.

2 minute read

August 14, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Public Service Announcement

Sundry Photography / Shutterstock

John Miller writes a column to bring attention to a plan making its way through the planning department in San Jose, California that would rescind the city's 1985 ban on billboards, and allow for a wave of new billboards in the city.

Miller is obviously not a fan of the plan, and sarcasm drips from his words: 

The city Planning Department explains that by allowing new, large, digital billboards, four times as many 'old' existing billboards will be removed. Plus, they say new billboards will be 'vibrant quality signs.' Is that a deal you can’t refuse?

More scare quotes follow, in case the sarcasm wasn't obvious enough:

Planners think so, asserting billboards will “facilitate economic development” and are “an … aesthetic asset” that will be responsible for a “vibrant urban landscape.” City Councilman Raul Peralez and other City Council members agree, declaring billboards to be, of all things, “progressive.”

Miller also lists a series of arguments against new billboards, citing traffic safety and impact on property values while criticizing the San Jose City Council for endorsing the billboard industry's interests. According to Miller, the City Council is making a specious argument for the benefits of new billboards to the economic development of the city.

An environmental impact report for the new billboard plan is expected soon, according to Miller. For news coverage of San Jose's new billboard plan, see an article by Maggie Angst, published on July 10, 2020.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 in The Mercury News

View down New York City alleyway at nighttime

Red Cities, Blue Cities, and Crime

Homicides rose across the nation in 2020 and 2021. But did they rise equally in all cities, or was the situation worse in some than in others?

March 12, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

babyt Boomer Homeowners

The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?

In the first of a two-part series, PlaceMakers’ Ben Brown interviews housing guru Arthur C. Nelson on the sweeping demographic changes complicating the housing market.

March 12, 2023 - PlaceShakers and NewsMakers

Yellow on black "Expect Delays" traffic sign

A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts

Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.

March 14, 2023 - Todd Litman

Washington D.C. Protest

IPCC Report: The World Is Running Out of Time on Climate Change

The planet is not doing enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent report published by the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

March 20 - International Panel on Climate Change

A view of the Boise skyline, across tress int he foreground. The state capitol is visible amongst other office buildings.

Skyline-Defining High-Rise Potentially Coming to Boise

A rendering making the rounds in Boise depicts a 40-story apartment building that would be taller than all other buildings in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

March 20 - Boise Dev

Interior of Tesla car with driver holding hands off wheel in 'full self-driving' mode

Buttigieg: Tesla ‘Autopilot’ Marketing ‘A Concern’

The USDOT secretary says marketing doesn’t fall under his department’s investigative authority, but expressed disapproval of language that implies autonomous operation.

March 20 - Bloomberg

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.