Fail: 46,008 / 46.00% Yes votes ...... 42,365 / 42.72% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Summary Prepared by LWVSF Pro & Con Guide:

The Background In 2002, voters approved Proposition G, an amendment to the Planning Code, which prohibits the construction of additional general outdoor advertising (billboards) on City owned buildings. In 2007, voters approved Proposition K, a declaration of policy to restrict advertising on street furniture and City buildings. This proposition would add the Proposition G (2002) and Proposition K (2007) into the City's Administrative Code, giving them the force of law. Clear Channel provides outdoor furniture to some municipalities in exchange for advertising space. The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) has an existing contract with Clear Channel to provide the City's bus shelters and news racks in exchange for advertising space. The Proposal Proposition E would prohibit any new general advertising signs on street furniture above that authorized as of January 1, 2008, as well as prohibit new general advertising signs visible to the public on the exterior of City-owned buildings above that authorized as of March 5, 2002. MTA's existing contract with Clear Channel would not be impacted by this proposition, but an expansion of this contract would likely be prevented if this proposition passes.

Fiscal Impact from The Controller of San Francisco:

The Controller states the following: Should the proposed ordinance be approved, in my opinion, it would not in and of itself affect the cost of government. However, restrictions on general advertising would affect the ability of some public agencies to generate revenue. For example, the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) allows advertising on a portion of its transit shelters which generates over fifteen million dollars annually for the City. The proposed ordinance would prevent any expansion of such advertising. The ordinance would prohibit any new general advertising signs on street furniture above that authorized as of January 1, 2008 as well as prohibit new general advertising signs visible on the exterior of Cityowned buildings above that authorized as of March 5,
2002. In 2002, the voters of the City and County of San Francisco approved Proposition G, which updated the Planning Code to prohibit new general advertising. In 2007, the voters approved Proposition K, a policy statement that prohibited increases in general advertising signs on street furniture. The proposed initiative ordinance implements and codifies Proposition G and K into the City's Administrative Code.

Official Sources of Information

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