Editor’s note: La Mesa Courier ran an article (La Mesa billboard proposal sparks confusion and mixed reactions) by writer Jessica Mills in its Nov. 24 issue. The Courier had received comments for the article from several local officials. Emailed comments from La Mesa Councilmember and Vice Mayor Laura Lothian inadvertently went to a spam folder and not the writer’s inbox. Those comments were left out of the story that ran last month. As such, the Courier invited Lothian to respond below with her views on the billboard issue. Lothian’s original comments which did not make the Courier last month are in bold.

Being a part of the City Council, are you in favor of this proposal?

Lothian: Because the billboards are in highly commercialized locations (Grossmont Center and the 8 Freeway at Jackson Drive) and not in residential neighborhoods or in the quaint downtown area, I initially was in favor – especially with generated revenue going toward public safety and public art. Local residents did not come out against the billboards at the city council meeting when the billboards were first on the agenda. However, they came out in force the second time, which surprised me. I voted yes to exploring billboards (not installing them), but I have to say, based on the passionate pleas and sound arguments of involved La Mesa citizens and my history of fighting to maintain La Mesa’s charm and small-town feel, I am feeling negative toward the electronic, digital billboards.

Do you think the billboards would negatively or positively impact the La Mesa community and why?

Lothian: Their positive impact would be extra funds for public safety, funds for public art, and effective messaging about City news and events like Oktoberfest, recycling, and available positions for hire. The negative impact would be electron blight blight. Billboards are not pretty and one of the public commenters told the city council she could see Lemon Grove’s electronic billboard – miles away – from her La Mesa house. That gave me pause.

As a real estate agent, would added billboards diminish a property’s value?

Lothian: Visibility of an electronic billboard from a property would diminish its value.

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Below is Lothian’s follow-up piece to the original article that ran last month:

Since the Courier’s Digital Billboard article appeared in November’s issue, big changes occurred. La Mesans of all ages, demographics and political ilk expressed their fierce opposition to the billboards and Mayor Mark Arapostathis and I heard them. We placed on December 12th’s agenda the following:

FROM: Mayor Mark Arapostathis and Vice Mayor Laura Lothian

RE: Consideration and Possible Action to Redirect Staff to Terminate the Request for

Proposals for the Placement and Installation of Digital Billboards in the City (RFP)

On September 26, 2023 the Council directed staff to develop and circulate the RFP subject to certain conditions. After considering substantial citizen commentary and careful evaluation regarding this matter, we believe that the placement and installation of digital billboards in La Mesa is inappropriate at this time.

Therefore, rather than expend valuable staff time, resources and effort processing the RFP, we request that the Council immediately (at this meeting) redirect staff to terminate the RFP and all related actions.

cc: City Manager

City Attorney

I sympathize with the business entities whose years of work to bring their project to fruition did not materialize, but I am very gratified to see Citizen Activism find success and am also very proud to offer Representative Government – hearing The People and taking action for the benefit.

(Courtesy photo)