BRIAN GREAR SHOWS SUCH DISRESPECT FOR TOWN LAWS and he wants to be Sheriff??

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

BRIAN GREAR SHOWS SUCH DISRESPECT FOR TOWN LAWS and he wants to be Sheriff??

Date: Wed Jul 27 8:57 PM, 2005

Stop yelling.

And is that an actual sign or a snowplow?

kspeer · Senior Member

Looks like a snowplow to me. Define a sign.

Date: Thu Jul 28 12:44 AM, 2005

Well if the ordinance exists it is unenforceable. First Amendment. So it isn't illegal. And what a really lame reason to not support a candidate.

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

The intent of sign ordinances put into effect by many towns is to limit the visual distraction that campaign signs seem to have to a specific time before the election.

Others have told me about this ordinance being overturned somewhere in court because of the free speech issue, but the individual ordinances in many municipalities (like Pendleton) still exist.

If Mr. Grear had respect for the people of the different municipalities in Niagara County, and the aestetics of the towns, he would focus more of his resources on getting his name out other ways that are not in conflict with laws still in the Codes, Rules and Regulations for these Towns.

Mr. Grear's ignorance of Local Laws does not look good for someone who wants to be the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Niagara County.

Scott Leffler · Guru

Jim,

Not to be an antagonist here, but you're reaching. An unConstitutional law is null and void no matter how many town charters it's printed in.

I'd be inclined to laugh about all these towns that ban yard signs, etc if it weren't so damn scary. Lockport has a similar law ... except you're not allowed to have signs AT ALL - forget 30 days. And ya know what, I put mine up. And I'll continue to.

It's your duty to fight against that which is wrong.

But these same towns that don't allow political signs have FOR-SALE signs all over the place ... and signs for who did their driveway/roof/lawn chemicals ... if that's not discrimination against politics, I don't know what is.

And the anti-sign laws in essense discriminate against the non-incumbent since (s)he's the one trying to get their name out there.

Personally, I so-far admire Grear's campaign. For a guy I had never heard of until six months ago, he's got a lot of friends and has garnished a lot of name recognition with his bumper stickers and yard signs and plows and whathaveyou.

Mind you, I have no idea where he stands on issues, but his name is tattooed into my brain. He's doing SOMETHING right.

Mindcrime · Guru

A sign on someone's lawn is their own business. It's on private property and doesn't affect anyone else.

An annoying cluster of political signs on the street corner that block my view of oncoming traffic are getting pulled up and thrown in the ditch.

Date: Thu Jul 28 8:11 AM, 2005

mr. sacco, if this is truly a town ordinance and it must be enforced, then who in the town is responsible for the enforcement of said ordinance and why has the town not enforced it?????

jspeer · Guru

A campaign without a sign is a sign of no campaign.... or a Sacco without a clue is a sign of a lame Sacco. You should find a hobby Mr. Sacco. Mud slinging Mr Grear makes you look stupid. Do you know anything about him? I know a lot about Mr Belein...and so do most people voting for Grear in this election.

Date: Thu Jul 28 10:28 AM, 2005

Good thing you posted this.

Now Mr. Grear knows to get someone out there to cut the lawn in front of that snow plow.

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Scott Leffler wrote:

Jim, Not to be an antagonist here, but you're reaching. An unConstitutional law is null and void no matter how many town charters it's printed in. I'd be inclined to laugh about all these towns that ban yard signs, etc if it weren't so damn scary. Lockport has a similar law ... except you're not allowed to have signs AT ALL - forget 30 days. And ya know what, I put mine up. And I'll continue to. It's your duty to fight against that which is wrong. But these same towns that don't allow political signs have FOR-SALE signs all over the place ... and signs for who did their driveway/roof/lawn chemicals ... if that's not discrimination against politics, I don't know what is. And the anti-sign laws in essense discriminate against the non-incumbent since (s)he's the one trying to get their name out there. Personally, I so-far admire Grear's campaign. For a guy I had never heard of until six months ago, he's got a lot of friends and has garnished a lot of name recognition with his bumper stickers and yard signs and plows and whathaveyou. Mind you, I have no idea where he stands on issues, but his name is tattooed into my brain. He's doing SOMETHING right.

Scott,

You are not being antagonistic, but I still don't agree. Even if there is a court case, the law was put into effect for a reason. Campaign signs do seem to clutter the landscape, so it is good to limit their presence.

Regarding the court case, I do not know of it, or to what extent it covers local laws. I do not know this as a fact, but I do not think that Municipalities would take a law off the books, unless there was some directive to do that.

It simply frosts me to think that a man who wants to be the Chief Law Enforcement officer of Niagara County is ignorant of local laws that are in existence for the good of the community they represent. If you have him on your show, please tell him that I am taking not of his arrogance, and hope to get the message out to as many voters as I can before Election Day. Or, let me know beforehand, and I will call to tell him just that.

To the person who left the message before me, I am glad some people notice the grass needs to be cut - too funny!

Wad963 · Member

Jim, are you one of Beilen's boys or what? Talk about nit-picking. Free speech, it can't be illegal to put up a sign regardless of the reason someone wants to ban it, plain and simple. Garage sale signs would be illegal and could be, do you copy down the addresses and complain about those people....probably not, no political motivation to do that.

shughes · Senior Member

Wad963 wrote:

Jim, are you one of Beilen's boys or what? Talk about nit-picking. Free speech, it can't be illegal to put up a sign regardless of the reason someone wants to ban it, plain and simple. Garage sale signs would be illegal and could be, do you copy down the addresses and complain about those people....probably not, no political motivation to do that.

I have to agree, with wad963 on this one. Free speech is free speech. Why don't you check and see if the town still has any blue laws on the books. I bet it does, so watch out what you do on Sundays.

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

shughes,

Interesting you bring up the old Blue Laws. They were taken off the records in the early 1970's (before Scott Leffler). I remember how it happened here in Niagara County.

My father was a Town Constable and went with the Police Chief to serve notice on K-Mart that they were in violation back then. The result was that it was dismissed and the Town Code was changed to remove them.

Regarding political signs, yes you can attempt to equate this to a free speech issue based on heresay from what is suppose to be a court decision, but in the case of a candidate for Sheriff he should respect the fact that it is a local law that is still on the books.

He will not get elected Sheriff by fighting local laws that were developed to minimize on what many people feel is a visual impact that should be limited.

shughes · Senior Member

Jim Sacco wrote:

shughes, Interesting you bring up the old Blue Laws. They were taken off the records in the early 1970's (before Scott Leffler). I remember how it happened here in Niagara County. My father was a Town Constable and went with the Police Chief to serve notice on K-Mart that they were in violation back then. The result was that it was dismissed and the Town Code was changed to remove them. Regarding political signs, yes you can attempt to equate this to a free speech issue based on heresay from what is suppose to be a court decision, but in the case of a candidate for Sheriff he should respect the fact that it is a local law that is still on the books. He will not get elected Sheriff by fighting local laws that were developed to minimize on what many people feel is a visual impact that should be limited.

I guess it is all in how you look at it. I don't think there is any law saying you can't paint a snow plow. So from my perspective Mr. Grear knows how to work with what he has. I do appreciate your prompt response to my post, how about responding to some of the other threads that have asked questions of you? I have not been able to follow the board for a few days, but I don't see any of those threads with recent posts.

Date: Sat Jul 30 5:26 PM, 2005

mr. sacco, will ask you this question again. if the signage issue is still on the books in the town of pendelton and is in fact enforcable, who is supposed to enforce this code or ordinance???

Scott Leffler · Guru

Anonymous wrote:

Good thing you posted this.
Now Mr. Grear knows to get someone out there to cut the lawn in front of that snow plow.

Went down Transit today. In front of plow is mowed. Around it isn't. Gee, think someone reads this board?

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Scott,

You are right!

Drove up Transit to Church with my family this morning, and saw they did cut the grass to see the sign better! It is even a better view of this illegal advertisement than when I took the picture earlier this month.

Now Scott, if you wanted your front lawn cut, you could ask for a double sided sign! But we all know you are a better person than that.

Scott Leffler · Guru

Jim Sacco wrote:

Scott,
Now Scott, if you wanted your front lawn cut, you could ask for a double sided sign! But we all know you are a better person than that.

Says you!!! That's a great idea. Maybe I can get a few signs and get the whole lawn cut.

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Scott Leffler wrote:

Jim Sacco wrote: Scott, Now Scott, if you wanted your front lawn cut, you could ask for a double sided sign! But we all know you are a better person than that. Says you!!! That's a great idea. Maybe I can get a few signs and get the whole lawn cut.

RIGHT ON SCOTT!! I am glad you agree!

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL!!

First ask yourself if you really hate cutting your lawn so much that you will lower your ethical standards to that of the arrogant, lawbreaking Republican who wants to be County Sheriff.

Then if you decide to put up the signs, try to get them to cut your lawn so you can take them down before the building inspector writes you up.

shughes · Senior Member

Look at that Scott, now your thinking like a politician. Make sure you have a variety, better chance of keeping the building inspector at bay.

Paper Tigress · Veteran Member

A temporary political sign is different from something painted on a (more or less) permanent object, isn't it? What if he had painted his message on the side of a building?

Just asking...

Nitrogen_Widget · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Good thing you posted this. Now Mr. Grear knows to get someone out there to cut the lawn in front of that snow plow.

Forgot to log in.

I hate when that happens.

As far as I’m concerned the snowplow doesn't really distract me from the 20 other signs plastered all over the landscape on that stretch of the road.

I'd be tempted to vote for him just based on the rabid pettiness of the other guy’s political lemmings, I mean supporters.

C’mon, is signage blasphemy all you can come up with? Pretty weak.

I would hope for Reno-911 type stories from the officer’s ball at the least.

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Nitrogen_Widget wrote:

Anonymous wrote: C’mon, is signage blasphemy all you can come up with?

It is early in the campaign season. There are many ways for Mr. Grear to get his name known, but he chooses ways that circumvent municipal laws. That does not sound good for a person who wants to be our Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the County!

We will find out more about him and what he has to say on issues during the campaign. But on top of that, his disrespect for local laws that are written to maintain the aestetics of a community is known.

Mindcrime · Guru

Why is everyone bagging on someone who is just running for a position? Why not bag on the ones who are already in a position of service AND breaking all kinds of laws? I've seen police talking on cel phones while driving, speeding without cause, no turn signal, using entrapment techniques, even making unconstitutional searches, seizures and arrests. And that's just your local police. While everyone is whining about some victimless sign infraction, real cops believe they're above the law.