The billboard industry has amazing power. Every time a local community attempts to regulate billboards to improve neighborhood appearance, a bill is proposed in the state Legislature to stop the community’s initiative and usually to increase overall billboard protection. Remember, a state law applies to every community.

To date, the billboard industry has been incredibly successful. Why?

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Could it be that the cash contributions to legislators and the free in-kind billboard ads results in a sympathetic Legislature?

According to Ray Ring’s feature story, "Billboard corporations use money and influence to override your vote," in High Country News (www.hcn.org), for some legislators, the campaign contribution by the billboard industry is the largest contribution they get. Their success has already made billboards the most protected land use in the state.

Now they want digital billboards allowed anywhere a billboard exists. Communities would have no choice on the issue. Do you want Vegas-style signs right in your front yard? Imagine them in Park City, Moab or even Millcreek.

Enough is enough. Tell your legislator that billboards are a local issue that should be determined by the people who live with them, and not by lobbyists on Capitol Hill.

John M. Janson

Salt Lake City