A billboard (Stop The Killings) in Newark, N.J., has the Mayor upset. Should it remain in place or taken down?

Question

Mayor Wants Billboards Removed
AP
NEWARK, N.J. (March 27) - The head of the city's teachers union said it won't take down "Stop the killings" billboards despite complaints from business owners and the new mayor that they're driving away business.

Mayor Cory Booker, who campaigned last year on a promise of reducing crime, says the signs fuel a negative image of the city, where a record 106 people were killed last year - the highest number in a decade.

"I know if I had tens of thousands of dollars, I wouldn't use them on billboards," Booker said. "I would use them for after-school programs. I would use them to help teachers get supplies."

The six billboards in the downtown area were put up about two months ago. They scream, "HELP WANTED: Stop the Killings in Newark Now!" Joe Del Grosso, president of the Newark Teachers Union, wouldn't say how much the signs cost.

"I think we have a serious problem," said Del Grosso, whose union endorsed Booker's opponent and is at odds with Booker over school vouchers. "It's about people dying."

Answer 1

First, Booker is not forcing them to take the sign down. Therefore, free speech issues aren't implicated. What this comes down to is a difference in philosophy: Booker thinks that a positive image of Newark will fuel investment, which will create oppurtunities and drive crime down (a long range point of view), the school board thinks the sign will bring awareness to the issue of violence and help stop it (a short range view). Both are admirable, however if you promote awareness of the violence, you will certainly deter investment. Because of the tax benefits and other incentives Newark is in fact a wise business investment, but investors must feel that their risks are counterbalanced by the chance that Newark and Booker will succeed. Since most crime is violent, the signs aren't going to deter anyone. However, I think Booker has a valid point that instead of spending money on signs, if you put more children in after school programs (when there is a spike in criminal activity) crime will go down.

It is indeed a sorry and much unpublicized fact that violent crime is up in almost every city. No billboard is going to solve the problem. Bigger (and unfortunately more expensive) solutions are needed that include community organization.

Answer 2

Here we'll have to consider the people putting up the sign the have a first amendment right to free speach. The government cannot regulate the CONTENT of the speach without meeting the strict standard, that is the state must show that there is a compelling state interest the government seek to protect.
However on the other side the government can have the sign brought down if for traffic reason or ..... basically regulating the place such signs could be placed (on a less stricter standard).
On the otherhand , the business people have a prima facie case to protect profit, The court will have to weight both rights.

Answer 3

I was born/raised 3 mins away from Newark and I think the sign is not only approriate, it's needed. The sign is not driving business away, insane taxes and a state government on the brink of being bankrupt is. Anyone going to Newark for ANY reason nows that it's not Mayberry so the teacher's union isn't letting people know some secret information about violence in Newark. I think the Mayor needs to stop focusing on something he can't control (freedom of expression) and start focusing on making sure the blood doesn't flow in the streets this Summer like it did last year.

Answer 4

Booker is full of it. I spent 8 years living in New Jersey and went to Newark as little as possible because it's one of the most crime-ridden, gang-plagued, dangerous places on the planet. He's just pissed off that he made a campaign promise that he can't keep, and the citizens of the city are calling him on it. Corruption in the city government is rampant, crime is out of control, the cops are understaffed (but certainly not underpaid!), and the city is sinking deeper into the cesspool of crime each passing day.

Meanwhile, Booker sits on his hands and does nothing.

Answer 5

Would taking it down lead to the money being reimbursed and spent somewhere else instead? I doubt it.

Should the parents of the schoolkids be interacting with the teachers and telling them how they want those funds to be used? Of course they should!