Private Firms Banned From Hanging Banners

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers, the ABC television network and other businesses will be prohibited from hanging promotional banners on Los Angeles light poles under strict rules adopted Tuesday by the City Council.

The council agreed, with restrictions, to allow nonprofits to continue hanging banners, but limited the logo of corporate sponsors to 20% of the banner space, and will impose fees when the logos are used.

The rules were proposed in response to concerns about a proliferation of street banners in Los Angeles, including many put up in the public right of way by commercial corporations. City officials estimate that about 6,200 banners are now flying.

“In some communities, the banners have been part of the blight,” Councilman Mike Hernandez said. “In some communities, the private sector was definitely taking advantage of them.”

The issue reached the boiling point in August when CBS-TV executives complained that the city had allowed rival network ABC to put up 2,000 banners advertising its shows, including banners across the street from CBS studios in Studio City.

ABC was ordered by the city to remove the banners, but the network complained that other for-profit enterprises, including the Dodgers and Lakers, were allowed to use them. City officials admitted that the rules were not clear enough.

The rules approved Tuesday prohibit businesses from putting up banners advertising their products. The council adopted the prohibition despite requests to exempt professional sports teams that supporters maintain are part of Los Angeles’ civic image.

Council members said any exemption for a sports team could open the door to broader demands.