The tomato structure story inspired me to try again to do something about this sign lashed to a tree in front of the West Newton Citgo station. It’s not just ugly and not good for the tree. It’s a violation of Mass General Laws and Newton’s Public Tree ordinance.
And even without the tree, it looks like it would violate this provision:
Sec. 26-27. Placing signs on sidewalks.
No person shall, without authority from the commissioner of public works, place or cause to be placed on a sidewalk a showboard, placard or sign for the purpose of displaying the same or attracting attention thereto. (Rev. Ords. 1973, § 19-27; Ord. No. 90, 10-6-75)
I first noticed it back during Hurricane Irene and thought it was just attached for the hurricane. But I’ve told the owner and other guys at the gas station then, and at least a couple of times since, about the ordinance not allowing attaching things to city trees, and the sign is attached again (or still). Either they don’t believe me or don’t care. So I emailed John Lojek yesterday in hopes that he will have better luck.
@Julia, try contacting David Norton in ISD by email at [email protected], or by phone at 617-796-1078. He was recently promoted to deputy commissioner but I believe he is still in charge of zoning enforcement until the city hires his successor. If that is a city tree, you should also contact March Welch, the tree warden, at [email protected] or 617-796-1530. Or use the city’s 311 system.
Good luck – please let us know what happens.
Thanks, Ted, I figured John Lojek would send it on to the appropriate person, but he may be occupied with tomatogate, so I will try David Norton. I hope ISD can take care of this, since Marc’s a little short on people still, and it seems to me this sign, even if disconnected from the tree (which it was in the past, albeit temporarily), still probably shouldn’t be on the sidewalk.
Julia, that sign definitely should not be on the sidewalk. One of my pet peeves is realtors who put sandwich boards on the sidewalk for open houses. It is illegal to put these signs on the sidewalk, and I have walked over to more than one open house and asked them to remove the signs. What is doubly offensive is when they place the sign in the curb cut that is supposed to be for handicapped access.
An update of sorts: I hadn’t heard anything back from ISD, John Lojek or David Norton, so I just talked to David Norton. It turns out this is not under ISD jurisdiction, they just do violations on private property. Signs on sidewalks are on public property, so that is enforced by Public Works. I have a call in to Public Works.