The City of Pomona Billboard Lawsuit is a legal dispute between the city of Pomona, California and Regency Outdoor Advertising, a billboard company. The lawsuit stems from a 1993 ballot initiative, Proposition L, which prohibited the construction of new billboards in Pomona. Regency had an agreement with the city to allow its existing billboards to remain in place, but the agreement expired in 2014. In 2014, the city council voted to extend the agreement for another 12 years, but a group of residents sued, alleging that the extension violated Proposition L.
The case went to trial in 2018, and the judge ruled in favor of the residents. The city appealed, but the California Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s ruling in 2019. The city then appealed to the California Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2020.
As a result of the lawsuit, the city of Pomona is now required to remove the Regency billboards. The city has estimated that it will cost $1.5 million to remove the billboards, and the city is currently working to raise the funds.
The City of Pomona Billboard Lawsuit is a reminder of the importance of ballot initiatives and the power of citizens to hold their government accountable. It is also a reminder of the importance of local governments respecting the will of their citizens.
In addition to the legal dispute, the City of Pomona Billboard Lawsuit has also raised important questions about the role of billboards in society. Some people argue that billboards are a form of visual pollution and that they can be distracting and dangerous. Others argue that billboards are a form of free speech and that they provide a valuable service to businesses and consumers.
The City of Pomona Billboard Lawsuit is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is an important issue to consider as we think about the future of our cities and our communities.
