HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 20 2025 Item 7.4 - Oppose Electronic Billboard - Tom FischerCity of Gilroy
Gilroy City Council
Re: Electronic Billboard
Greetings Mayor and Council,
I am writing today asking for and recommending a vote to deny the
Electronic Billboard.
I do not have any science for my reasoning other than my own experience.
I find these signs to be very distracting as a driver and of little value to the
advertiser. I simply cannot glean enough information in the short time as
you drive by to find them of value to me. I see no benefit to the
community.
The more philosophical reason to me is about "small-town feel".
I have lived in Gilroy for close to 50 years. We moved here because it was a
small town where anyplace you went you would see someone you know.
Gilroy has grown a lot since then and although it is no longer the small
town I moved here to experience, it has for the most part maintained a
small-town feel. But each decision made over the years to put Gilroy on the
map has resulted in a loss of some of its character. The best and biggest
example of that is when city leaders decided to allow development of the
Outlets and the retail district east of the freeway. Great for city revenue
totally ruined the downtown.
Downtown has yet to recover.
I believe this billboard will be just another chip in the small-town
atmosphere that most of our residents wish to maintain.
Please deny this application.
Thank you for your consideration.
Tom Fischer