A group trying to overturn a Seattle law that bans posters on power poles failed to gather enough signatures to put its initiative on the November ballot.
The group submitted 14,559 signatures to the city yesterday -- short of the 18,830 names needed. Yesterday was the deadline.
Tim Crowley, one of the leaders of the group -- called Free Speech Seattle -- said the number of signatures gathered made a powerful statement against the city's 5-year-old law.
"This represents a lot of citizens who feel the law is wrong," he said.
Those who signed the petition included nightclub owners, band members, people who hold garage sales, pet owners and residents who recalled attending political rallies in their younger years by reading about the event on fliers attached to poles.
Despite coming up short in the initiative drive, the group staged a rally in a park near City Hall.
City Council candidate Judy Nicastro said she would fight to strike down the law if elected.