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Opposed to restrictions — Danny Peck, working on Saxon Boulevard to advertise Marsilvia Jewelry, opposes any new restrictions on his effort to earn a living. Deltona officials have discussed restricting the sign-waving activity.
BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON
BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON
Says signs help — Business owner Jonathan Cruz, as he pauses in cutting Jermaine Wharton’s hair, says sign-waving efforts along the roadways have helped bring new patrons. Cruz owns All-Star Barber Shop of Central Florida.
By Al Everson
posted Feb 7, 2012 - 6:54:00am
Amid the many high-tech ways of getting messages to prospective customers, the very old-fashioned method of using human beings to wave signs along busy roads is alive and well.
So alive and well, in fact, that Deltona leaders are considering new regulations on human billboarding.
City Commissioner Zenaida Denizac proposed rules for roadway advertising, as Deltona formulates a new ordinance on signs.
“It could potentially be a safety concern,” Denizac said.
During a Jan. 24 City Commission workshop on the sign law, she contended the turning, twirling, waving and rapid hand motions of those holding advertising placards is a distraction for motorists. Earlier in the month, she had suggested prohibiting what she called “spinning signs.”
“It poses a danger. It’s very distracting,” Denizac said.
Mayor John Masiarczyk said he knew of no crashes caused by exuberant sign-waving along roads.
“How many complaints have we received?” Commissioner Heidi Herzberg asked.
Masiarczyk, however, agreed the city government may want to restrict hard-sell advertising on the roadside.
“Public safety is the reason for doing this,” he said. “We’re not trying to put anybody out of work.”
Masiarczyk proposed forbidding sign-holders to listen to music through headphones or ear buds; he said the sign-wavers should not be distracted as they do their work amid oncoming traffic.
“The least they can do is to be aware of their surroundings,” the mayor said.
He suggested barring sign-holders from the rights of way, which could include sidewalks and grassy strips between the curbs and the walkways. The commission also entertained the idea of requiring sign-holders to wear safety vests.
Moreover, the city may require business owners to pay fees and obtain permits for each of the people waving signs.
As the debate proceeded, Denizac softened her opposition.
“I don’t want to get rid of the young men or women for working,” she said.
The prospect of a ban on sign-waving in Deltona troubles those using the method to promote stores, shops and restaurants. Albert Savino likes his work.
“I’ve been doing it off and on whenever they need help,” said Savino, as he wielded a sign for All-Star Barber Shop of Central Florida. “I don’t mind helping out.”
Savino’s boss is Jonathan Cruz, who owns the business at 2071 Saxon Blvd. and works as one of its barbers. Does putting Savino out by the traffic lure customers?
“Yeah, it helps,” Cruz said.
No less importantly, he added, is giving someone the opportunity to work.
“It’s a job for the people. Here in Deltona, there are no jobs,” Cruz said.
Danny Peck, who advertises for Marsilvia Jewelry at 2083 Saxon Blvd., agreed with Cruz on that point.
“Because there are no jobs — that’s why I’m doing this,” Peck told The Beacon.
He also commented on the criticism of sign- waving.
“I think it’s ridiculous. The way I look at it is, they say you’ve got to have to have your eyes wandering to see what’s going on around you, and if I can’t have my sign because it’s distracting, then they ought to take down all the other signs,” Peck said. “I feel they’re trying to take away every possibility for someone having a job.”
As the City Commission and staffers fine-tune the draft sign ordinance, Masiarczyk stressed he and his colleagues don’t want to throw sign-holders out of work.
“We’re going to allow them to continue, and we’re going to put some safety things in there,” he said.
The proposed ordinance will be reviewed by Deltona’s Planning and Zoning Board before the City Commission acts upon it.
The ordinance must be approved by the commission on two readings at separate times and dates. The City Commission will also conduct public hearings on the measure before voting on it.
Another aspect of regulating sign-waving is the constitutional considerations.
Masiarczyk noted people often assemble along busy roads during election campaigns, and they may be just as attention-getting as those who wield signs for merchants.
“We let that go because it’s politicians,” he observed.
Similarly, City Attorney Becky Vose said religious speech is also protected.
“If there is someone walking around with just a religious sign, we can’t make him just walk around his church,” she reminded commissioners.
While safety regulations would apply to all sign-holders along Deltona’s roadways, regardless of the content of their messages, Masiarczyk said the permit provision would probably apply only to for-profit businesses.
Reader Comments
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Sing-swinging people are not a safety concern because they stand in the sidewalks, not in the middle of the streets. Can't the Deltona City Council see other (real) wrongs taking place throughout the city that needs correction? I am willing to enlighten them about such things.
"Moreover, the city may require business owners to pay fees and obtain permits for each of the people waving signs. "
The rest is just smoke and mirrors!
I have a friend who's a sign spinner, and is a young widowed Mother of 2, and the income she makes doing this while my children are in school, keeps them off Foodstamps/Welfare/Medicaid and allows her to continue the Cobra Healthcare coverage provided to us through her late husband's employer.
Please don't take away these jobs!
Sandy,
What you are forgeting is that US Marines are paid muscle for the US government. They were never defending their country in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. They are trained killers not boyscouts.
They invade foreign countries murder innocent civilians along with the enemy, oh well!
Recently some our our GREAT Marine heroes snipers urinated on the corpses of dead enemy soldiers. What is next after corpse desecration....cannibalism? This shows the character and ugliness of US revenge.
The real enemy of Marines is their own government as they send these boys into wars that our government has no intention of winning.
You know what is beyond contempt?
Go look at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC. You notice something missing?
It is the names of the 1.5 to 2 million Vietnamese our forces killed.
The real Vietnamese Veterans are the Vietnamese themselves...as they withstood all the carpet bombings, chemical warfare and sick rotten evil that our country unleashed upon them.
Many Marines have done heroic acts...many have not. No matter how you cut it too many people in this country live on Government checks as our children swirl signs in the street at minimum wage.
I am a veteran myself...so what, it means NOTHING, I was part of the most arrogant dangerous military in the world...ours.
Waving signs is the new JOBS FRONTIER for young people! It is a job in our sick economy.
Only The 'IDIOT CITY' of Deltona would try to regulate that out of the job market
The Deltona City Council is full of selfish old men , many living on GOVERNMENT CHECKS
These sign wavers do not get GOVERNMENT CHECKS...what are they supposed to do?
The City of Deltona should be banned...it is another worthless layer of government that should not exist.
Those sign wavers are your children....why don't you kick em while they are down.
The Mayor of Deltona gets a government check, or else his worthless butt might be out there waving signs as well
Leave it to Denizac etal to create a problem where none exists. Easier than addressing problems that are real. News flash: you comissioners are NOT running a giant HOA here.
Also, why does the city have such a go-get-em policy about garage sale signs, and then stick their concert in the park and other event signs in that same right of way?
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