What’s Behind the "Billboard Scam"?

Why are environmentalists and liberal politicians misleading Alaskans with the threat of billboards?

By frightening Alaskans through the fabricated and emotionally driven threat of billboards, the Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE), liberal politicians and other radical environmentalists are raising BIG BUCKS. Their ultimate goal is to build their coffers to advance their Real Agenda -- locking up more of Alaska, stopping development, shutting down timber operations (putting Alaskans out of work), keeping ANWR closed and electing more liberal politicians.

Environmentalists and the Governor are playing politics at the expense of hard working Alaskans:

• LIBERAL POLITICS: They know billboards ALREADY are illegal, but they ignore the truth to capitalize on the lie.
• TRUTH: Billboards are strictly prohibited by state law (AS 19.25.090).
• LIBERAL POLITICS: They are lying about the effects of SB56 and using the billboard scam to bash Republicans.
• TRUTH: Republicans have fought hard to protect Alaska from billboards. Passing SB 56 has not changed their commitment to keep Alaska billboard free.

Environmentalists and the Governor are using the "mythical" billboard threat to mobilize their troops:

• The initiative petition is serving as a major fundraising tool -- to frighten Alaskans and people "outside" into giving money and support.
• They actually are shipping up college kids from California and other states - NOT Alaskans - to walk door-to-door to raise money for their political causes and spread the fabricated billboard threat.

What the Environmentalists and the Governor Claim:

In its latest newsletter, ACE said SB 56 created a "property right" in state law to allow land owners to sell advertising rights for signs outside of the right-of-way for businesses down the road.

• Much of the land bordering Alaska’s highways and roads is private property. By allowing tourist oriented directional signs to be placed on private property, under the same rules as public land, we give our mom and pop businesses a fighting chance to make ends meet, and we give travelers a fighting chance to find their destinations without interfering with Alaska’s natural beauty!

Governor Knowles claimed he vetoed SB 56 because he was concerned the private property right allowance would lead to the beginning of a billboard industry.

• If Knowles’ concern were real, why did he - just this year - place the same private property right into his regulations that SB 56 puts into statute? His allowance for signs on private property for the "Alaska Goldrush Centennial" celebration is no different than the allowance made for the small blue and white tourist signs in SB 56. Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?

The Truth About the Tourist Oriented Directional Sign Law:

• SB 56 has NOTHING to do with billboards -- it never has and never will!
• SB 56, provided statutory authority for the state to continue the Tourist Oriented Directional Sign (TODS) program that the state Department of Transportation ALREADY is doing by regulation.
• SB 56 continues the state-run program that ONLY allows for small blue and white informational signs, so that visitors and travelers can locate local businesses, attractions and services -- like, food, phone, gas, lodging!

The Facts:

• Signs must be metal and uniform blue and white color.
• Signs must be 18 inches by 90 inches OR smaller.
• Owner must obtain state approval and a state permit from the Department of Transportation PRIOR to installation and must pay for the cost of the sign.
• Violators are subject to loss of sign and up to a $1000 fine for each violation.
• Billboards ARE illegal in Alaska and have been illegal since AS 19.25.090 was adopted in 1949!

STOP THE LIE - GET THE FACTS !