Lobbyists At Work: Billboard Companies Pay Big Bucks to Influence L.A. City Officials

Millions are spent to grease the wheels so that your complaints about outdoor advertising's abuse of public space are overlooked by our politicians.

VIA Ban Billboard Blight

In 2009, billboard giants Clear Channel, CBS Outdoor, Lamar Advertising and others paid a total of more than $1 million to firms registered to lobby city officials, according to City Ethics Commission records. This time period corresponded with the drafting of a new city-wide sign ordinance (still pending before a City Council committee), and several high-profile challenges by community and advocacy groups to permits issued for digital billboards. [More]