(Political) Signs of the Times

Signs, signs, Oy those signs are everywhere! Ladies and gentlemen - welcome to the silly season.  The sprint to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is upon us and as usual, the evidence is overwhelming. 

The cool crisp fall air has replace the hot muggy summer silk. Temporary Halloween stores have begun to pop up in strip malls.  And yes, big lumbering political signs now adorn every street corner in our neighborhoods.  Ever wonder how they got there, or how sometimes they disappear?

Political signage, or visibility as local parties refer to it, is an annual political campaign staple. You can set your calendar by it just as you can the first day of school. As of today, you would be hard pressed to drive 1/4 mile in Plainview or the surrounding areas without seeing a RE-ELECT VENDITTO FOR SUPERVISOR or RE-ELECT JACOBS FOR COUNTY LEGISLATOR 4 foot by 8 foot (or 4x8) sign clinging to a gas station, office building or random fence. Who put them there, who said they could be put there and who removes them is all part of the game that is a local political campaign.

Who put them there:

These 4x8s, as well as the smaller ones staked into the ground on private lawns or public right-of-ways (known as lawn signs), were almost certainly put up in the dead of night by a force mixed with party volunteers and paid personnel.  In fact, sign teams often consist of the same folks year after year who have honed their skills in this form of art.  Visibility is a difficult task that requires a dedicated group of individuals. Some of these folks are public employees, though this task is done at off hours and both parties are very careful not to do this political work on the taxpayer's dime, we hope.

Who said they could go there:

On private property, for the most part, both political parties get permission from the property owner.  The smaller lawn signs are the prerogative of the homeowner. Year by year you will see the same arty have their signs on the same property.  Now the fenced in abandoned properties are another story. 

It is more likely these spots have been commandeered without anyone's permission. While that is a no-no, unless someone really takes the time to complain, signs will find a way to appear there. Public property is a very different story. Lawn signs on the middle island of Old Country Road have no right to be there. In fact no sign of any kind should be placed on public property as these are maintained by the taxpayers directly.

Again, signs have a way of showing up here. All part of the game.

How they disappear:

This is, of course, the "fun"part. Would it be a stretch to assume Democrats remove Republican signs, and vice versa? The time honored tradition of sending goon squads to steal the other party's signs is as old as America itself.  It is so common and anticipated that sign orders are invariably larger than need be to have stock for replenishing.  In fact, every once in a while someone is caught with these signs and detained by the police because it is theft.  Both sides will always disavow any knowledge - it is always a rogue volunteer of course. 

The sign wars will of course continue through to Election Day on Nov. 8.  As the date grows closer, the signage will increase.  We all accept this, for now. But one thing both parties know all too well is that signs do not vote.  It is up to all of us to decide if they represent the winners.

It is also up to us to remind those winners that on Nov. 9, those signs need to come down pronto...