Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Campaign Signs Are Up and the Sign-Vandal Zombies Are Out

Early Sunday morning, I began putting up my campaign signs in the public space, just like every city council candidate did before the primary (in fact, signs from Kathy Patterson and Agent Orange never came down in some places). The Council candidates' signs were largely untouched and a School Board President candidate's and Eleanor Holmes Norton's signs are currently up. Unfortunately, the sign-vandal zombies have awakened from their long sleep.

Most of my signs are torn down within 24 hours. The sign-vandal zombies leave my signs on the ground, contributing to our trash problem. Perhaps the large signs are distracting. Or perhaps they don't want my campaign theme of Progress in Pursuit of Justice to spread. The sign-vandal zombies are particularly prevalent on North Capitol Street between R and T Street.

If people can be strongly motivated to tear down every sign they see, why can't they also be motivated to pick up all the trash they see? Instead of tearing down someone else's free speech, why don't they contribute their own free speech? If you see a sign zombie, ask them.

9 Comments:

At 10/17/2006 11:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's an interesting area for them to get torn down, because your opponent lives on unit block of Seaton Place NW, and pretends to live on unit block of R Street NE.

So the areas where the signs are torn down are the areas between those two locations.

Note I'm not making accusations--just pointing out some facts that may not even be related to the signs coming down.

But it makes you think....

 
At 10/18/2006 4:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wait wait wait....

What is this about her living on Seaton Place NW?! I thought she lived on R St. NE.

 
At 10/20/2006 11:16 AM, Blogger Steve's Blog said...

It could be that the materilas of the sign do not stand up to the wind very well. The mayoral candidates used a plastic material that is basically weather proof and they used platic ties and 14 foot ladders to hand their signs - that's the way to do it.

 
At 10/20/2006 6:56 PM, Blogger Kris Hammond said...

Steve,

Several signs were torn down, no doubts about it.

The rain and today's super-wind took care of the rest I believe.

The solution is to put up more signs! Also, if anyone would be willing to have one of my signs in your yard, please drop me an email at krisforanc@yahoo.com!

 
At 10/25/2006 8:44 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The gentleman who came by Seaton PL NE and displayed your sign last night about 11pm or so should be commended. If you notice, there isn't much in the way of political signs on our street. We didn't ask for it. Just like we didn't ask for the added trash we get (mostly thanks to the people coming in from out of the area to the community center's weekly events). Why not go door to door telling people a bit about your mission to clean up this area rather than contributing to the problem in the middle of the night?

Just an idea.

 
At 10/25/2006 11:27 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

He has gone door to door and will continue to do so. You imply that he's not, which is not true. Hopefully, he will stop by at Seaton Place NE at a time when you are home so you can see for yourself.

 
At 10/26/2006 12:54 AM, Blogger Kris Hammond said...

If you notice, there isn't much in the way of political signs on our street. We didn't ask for it.

First of all, thanks for the feedback. I want to hear your perspective.

I have placed a single sign on your block. It replaced a previous sign that was torn down.

Seaton Place N.E. is a short block; only the unit block is in ANC 5c-02. Three people at three different homes on the block signed my ballot petition. No one else seems to be home when I stop by, and I have gone door to door on that block at least twice.

That sign I put up is designed to reach all the people who weren't home.

I'm sorry about the sign litter, but I go around picking it up as soon as I see it. The signs are already bought, a huge investment for a small campaign, and my opponent has a big name that can only be equalized by signs.

She hasn't put up signs because she doesn't need to. Her friends from Maryland are preparing to come to our neighborhood on election day and the days leading up. Then they will go back to Maryland and we'll be stuck with her leadership.

If you like your neighborhood's future to be determined by people located outside our neighborhood, vote for my opponent.

Otherwise, please bear with me about the signs. The election is less than two weeks away. I'm ready for it to be over as well. :)

 
At 10/26/2006 12:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My sincere apologies. I must be one of the many people who were not home the two times you have come around. The good news is, your sign did what you hoped.

That sign I put up is designed to reach all the people who weren't home.

It did reach me. I gave you my input. Thank you for a response!
I noticed this morning that your sign was posted however in a neighbors front yard. That reached out to me, personally, a lot more. I would never tear down your sign due to the fact that it IS public domain and you are entitled to do so. My point about the added trash however is, as far as I am concerned, it IS added trash to have signs in public areas like that.

Please understand, I am new to the area. I have very strong feelings about sign postings because of where I used to live. Campaign signs would be left out for months after elections were over in many cases. No one would pick them up if they fell. They take away from the sights behind them. Some were so obnoxious they would block the view of oncoming traffic or crosswalks. I don't like seeing them specifically in public areas. Not everyone may be as conscious about them as you are. ;)

The signs are already bought, a huge investment for a small campaign, and my opponent has a big name that can only be equalized by signs.

I truly hope this investment works to your advantage. I will say your efforts have not gone unnoticed and I would like to add you have my vote.

 
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