Philadelphia City Council wants more action to reduce sign clutter

Philadelphia officials have promised to crack down on the proliferation of illegal signs nailed to utility poles.  But City Council isn’t happy with the progress.  

You see the signs high up on poles in many neighborhoods, advertising just about everything. Brian Abernathy, with the city’s managing director’s office, says the problem is tracking down who is behind the illegal advertising.

“For the most part, folks are putting up signs with phone numbers and phone numbers only.  Being able to track down those folks, and where they live, has been challenging,” he said.

Councilman Curtis Jones said it shouldn’t be that challenging.

“If we can find bin Laden, it seems like we should be able to find the guys with these illegal signs,” Jones said.

Councilwoman Marian Tasco recommends that the city just start tearing them down. Abernathy says the administration is working on it.