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| CAROL CHAN/The Daily |
| The Burning Airlines rock to a crowd of supporters of I-46, the Initiative for the repeal of the poster ban. |
Free Speech Seattle is doing its best to clothe more than 250,000 of the city's tallest residents.
City-owned utility poles and lampposts have been naked for nearly five years, since the city council issued a ban that prohibits postering them and other city-owned structures.
Free Speech Seattle claims the ban has hampered access to an affordable means of expression that has drastically affected Seattle's music and political scene.
"It's totally an issue of free speech," said UW sophomore Ben Livingston. "I believe that in a democratic community, it's not only a right, it's an essential."
In addition to being a graphics design major, Livingston is also the treasurer of Free Speech Seattle. The political organization was formed specifically as a ballot initiative committee devoted to repealing the poster ban.
Initiative 46, authored by FSS's campaign manager Tim Crowley, calls for changes in the wording of the Seattle Municipal Code to allow postering on utility poles and lampposts. As of 1994, it was deemed unlawful to affix any sign, poster or handbill on any traffic control device, city owned structure or tree. For the purposes of I-46, a light or utility pole would not be considered a city-owned structure.
In 1984, a similar ban was introduced to rid the city of the 'visual blight' of postering. It's focus on aesthetics caused it to be repealed as unconstitutional before it was enacted.
The current ban cites safety as the main issue. When electrical workers repair a utility pole, extensive postering could inhibit their ability to climb it quickly and securely.
However, both Crowley and Livingston maintain that, though they are concerned as well, this opposition is not valid as a reason for the ban.
"There is no reason in 1999 for a worker to climb a pole where his only protection is the cleats on his shoes," Crowley said.
FSS asserts that removing the ban will serve as protection of the rights of economically challenged groups to express their opinions. Traditional advertising through a newspaper or billboard requires the kind of money found only in the pockets of large companies, organizations or bands that have already made it.
Small political organizations, young bands or even that little girl who lost her cat deserve a free medium to reach the community, FSS said.
"If I have to look at billboards that advertise stuff I don't care about, I should be able to put something up that means something to me," said Beth Fell.
Fell is the fundraising coordinator for FSS and the owner of the Hi-Score Arcade. The arcade is the site of the organization's weekly meetings, as well as many of the benefits hosted to gain support and raise money.
Local band Burning Airlines drew a crowd of 30 people at Hi-Score yesterday in the first of three benefits designed to raise awareness of the proposed initiative. FSS has also planned two upcoming rallies, the first of which is on May 22 in Victor Steinbrueck Park.
The American Civil Liberties Union has recently endorsed I-46 as a valuable function in a democratic society.
"We think the city poles provide a way for people without a lot of money to get messages out," said ACLU spokesman Doug Honig.
In addition to being an impetus for cheap, free speech, the acceptance of I-46 could be a veritable Pandora's Box for other youth organized changes. Many of the FSS affiliates are also involved in fighting the Teen Dance Ordinance, which restricts attendance for all-ages dances to teens between 16 and 20.
FSS has been garnering support from many such shows, a reaction that encourages them in their fight. If they get 18,830 valid petition signatures by late August, I-46 may either be approved without a vote or sent on to the ballot boxes in November.
"If we have to go to the election, it will become a very different campaign," Crowley said. "Getting signatures is the easy part."
For the time being, FSS is concentrating on getting the issue out to the public. But don't look to a utility pole for any further information, at least not yet.
For more information on Initiative 46 or Free Speech Seattle, call 781-7371 and leave a message.