The Seattle City Council's god-awful poster ban has remained in place, thanks in part to claims made by the Electrical Brotherhood of Workers Local 77. The union says posters on utility poles are a safety hazard for workers. However, Free Speech Seattle, the non-profit organization dedicated to reversing the poster ban, recently sent a public disclosure request to Seattle City Light and got their hot little hands on information that debunks this anti-poster theory.
First, over the last six years, the lowest number of injuries was in 1993 — the year before the poster ban went into effect. In the years following 1993, the average number of accidents has yo-yoed, suggesting that there is no relationship between poster-free poles and worker safety. Second, statistics show that falls generally occur from an average height of 12.2 feet. Who hangs posters 12.2 feet up a pole?
Free Speech Seattle has done some good work challenging Local 77's claims, but they've still got a big job in front of them. Their campaign to reverse the poster ban needs around 18,000 signatures before the city's August 24 deadline. If Free Speech Seattle gets enough signatures, the issue goes to a City Council vote. The next rally to collect signatures will be held Sat June 12, from 12 noon-9 pm, at Westlake Center.