KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho | Voice your opinion before bus stop benches disappear

Voice your opinion before bus stop benches disappear

Posted: Updated: April 15, 2009 03:18 PM PDT

SPOKANE, Wash. - Bus benches may soon disappear all together when the City of Spokane begins enforcing a ban on off premises advertising, but there is way you may be able to stop the ban in its tracks.

The law has been on the books for year years, but the city did not decide until October, 2008 that all bus benches with advertising should be removed as part of a program to limit outdoor advertising in town.

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We want to know how you feel about the ban. You can leave your comments at the bottom of the story and then look for them tonight on KHQ Local News at 5 and 6, when some will be read.

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That has sparked a fight between the city and Emerald Outdoor Advertising, which had the contract to provide the benches. The company hasn't removed its 223 signs, arguing that officials reneged on a pledge to create an open process for the decision.

Under the bench contract, Emerald paid the city $9,500 a year for the right to place the benches at bus stops. The company was responsible for buying, installing and maintaining them.

If the benches are removed, the Spokane Transit Authority says they are considering at least 100 of them in areas with the highest demands, however there is a slight chance the benches will remain. City Councilman Al French is meeting with residents Tuesday night to hear their opinions, then it would be up to him to authorize legislation that, if passed, would overturn the ban on off premises advertising.

Bus Bench Hearings

Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at NE Community Center
Tuesday from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at West Central Community Center
Wednesday from 7 p.m. - 7 p.m. at East Central Community Center