Dear Council Members and Mayor: I received an email concerning signs on public esplanades. I'm sending the text of the email. If what the email suggests is true, there is something wrong at city hall. We are the people you serve. We pay your salaries and we elect you to represent our concerns. So what's up??? "You may have seen them in the past... such as memorials for Princess Diana, JFKjr. and recently for Comets player KIM. Well, I found out today, that John Flores was ticketed twice for the Kim memorial. Something about some ordinance... It is probably the same ordinance about no bandit signs (even political signs) on public right a ways.... interresting... wonder how many of the Million Dollar Pressed-Wood Town Home builders have been fined, ticketed, etc... for having their signs on public right-o-ways and even on the Montrose esplanade, trying to sell these pressed-wood expensive looking veneered homes.... of course on weekends, when the city forces have their day-offs... Now from what I understand some civic organization (don't want to name names) but you may have an idea... made the complaint about the memorial displays.... Most likely the same ones who complained to have the "advanced notice of street closing for the Street Festival" to be taken down last season... because they thought it was a promotion of the festival... It was fought in court... and found out it was in the ordinance to notify the public of such an event...and better yet ... and if I got my facts right, The City Is To Erect Such Signs of notification of street closings for an event... Ha ha Now if you would like to complain to the city about all the "bandit signs" in the montrose ... and or city.... the number is 713-535-7900.... signs that are considered illegally placed are those along public right a ways... and those attached to utility (telephone) poles... and or street signs... and even signs attached to billboard poles (like "Boykins" on Gray and Brazos) sign with out a permit on a billboard pole is a No NO.... it seems those running for public office are the biggest culprits of disobeying the bandit sign ordinance. If you look on the bottom of many of the political signs it states the fine could be $500 dollars if illegally placed...." Sincerely, William

rtodd@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us (Council Member Rob Todd's Office) Date: Wed, Oct 13, 1999, 4:45pm To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Ricky Hurt) Subject: Re: Blight, Bandit Signs. along our public Right-o-Ways Dear Mr. Hurt: Thank you for your email regarding bandit-signs. I have requested that Ms. Ollie Schiller, Sign Administrator, further investigate this situation, and respond to your email. Ricky Hurt wrote: Below I have enclosed a photo below of a sign seen on I-10 and just west of 610 a bit... It just happen to be a Keller sign...but it could have been any sign of a candidate... (I don't even know who Keller is) it doesnt matter.... but it happened to be very visible... along heavy traffic along a public right-o-way...It was SLASHED with a statement... WAR ON BANDIT SIGNS .... on our public right-o-ways,... neighborhoods are getting tired of businesses including (weekend) home builders signs and even campaign signs along Public Right-o-Ways. Afterwards I was traveling west of hillcroft along westheimer to the galleria and just slashed signs,,, and then near shepherd and littleyork slashed 50 plus signs for the arena and port authority.... the law is printed on the bottom of the signs...This is nothing more than Professional Graffitti 7/24/365 .... I drove by where the City Bandit Sign trucks are parked, with just a few signs in one truck ...one sign I recognized was a Boykins sign...the other truck was empty... and yet westhiemer road pass the Galleria is Blighted with signs...And most major arteries through the city and county..... Earlier this week I drove down Gessner from Memorial to 290 picking up signs...sorry (jean kelly and lee brown...some of the signs were yours...) I never go out of my way... just driving here and there making special deliveries... if I have time... well there gone... The dumpster (in Spring area) for Harris county... has signs all the way along Kukeyndahl to the site...even a Judge Pat Shelton sign a block away....that was last years election.... I called the city about using there dumpster...told them I had a van full of signs... They said NO!!! to many signs. And then when the weekend of Home Builder signs appears... can't file a complaint your offices city and county are closed... they put them out on Friday night and pick them up before monday morning....and the police and sheriff officers cant be bothered... So we are blighted with signs on weekends... specifically in my area around highway 6/ 1960/290/249,,, and you also have to put up with the blight as you go to beautiful Lake Houston on 1960.... take a weekend drive and you will understand.... There is talk that It would not be good to bother the Home Builders (who may have the purse strings during elections). When I hear this, It doesn't sound good... that people even think that...but I wonder....$$$$$ Also what about the illegal billboards that are going up made out of 4x4 and 2x4 posts...and plywood.... the yellow internet signs seen all over as example or even those home builders signs (like on Cutten Road and 249) also (Veterans Memorial and West Road)... They have no permits...for these signs and billboards... A Final Question why should businesses pay sign permit fees for the sign in front of their businesses and the others get free access.??? So you and the police call Bandit signs Low Priority.... what if every business decided not to pay permit fees for their signs in front of their business...a version of Boston Tea party... so what are we going to do.... Maybe I should take these down for pay, any openings... I have experience ... able to work weekends.. and after 3 in the morning.... those are the best times... for the sign Slasher/Whacker.... (with box knife in hand) Ricky Hur

oschille@pwe.ci.houston.tx.us (oLLIE sCHILLER) Date: Wed, Oct 13, 1999, 4:52pm To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net Cc: mayor@ci.houston.tx.us Subject: Bandit Signs Dear Mr. Hurt: On behalf of Mayor Lee P. Brown, thank you for your e-mail concerning illegally posted signs on public property. I enjoyed meeting you today at our offices and discussing your efforts to deter the use of bandit signs. As I explained, the Sign Administration Division confiscates over 100,000 bandit signs annually inside the city of Houston. It is my understanding that some of the constables in Harris County utilize probationers to remove signs in the county. Despite our efforts to remove the illegally placed signs and contact the flagrant violators, the area is replenished much faster than it is cleared. We have seen the number of volunteers, such as yourself, increase in the past few years. Assistance in the form of safety information, identification of public versus private property, pursuit of flagrant violators and disposal of signs is provided upon request. If you are interested in any of these services, please advise. You mentioned builders signs or more permanent signs on 4 X 4 posts. These signs are usually located on private property and cannot be remedied through simple removal. Removal of a sign from private property, even when illegal, is considered trespassing. Also, the Houston Sign Code requires written notice for signs valued at over $50.00 prior to removal even when in the right-of-way. If you would forward the location, description and message of the more permanent or more valuable signs found inside the city to me we will pursue the culprit. If the sign is located outside the city, information can be referred to the Texas Department of Transportation. If you need more information or would like to discuss the issue further, please contact me. Ollie Schiller Deputy Assistant Director Sign Administration

rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Ricky Hurt) Date: Sat, Oct 16, 1999, 2:06am To: han-net@onelist.com Subject: [han-net] Going to Court. maybe. From: rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Ricky Hurt) Tonight while doing my civic duty (I thought) by removing, painting (defacing) or slashing bandit signs in the 1960 Jones area, I was approached by a man upset that I was destroying his signs (his property he called it). It was a scarry moment so I went to a safe area (getting the security guard at the Blockbuster)... and eventually was able to get a Harris County Sheriff to come to the scene... Now this is the scenario... the sheriff after moments of talking to both parties... The guy can charge me, take me to court Harris County deputy J.M. Henning #2279 said because I defaced and slashed his property... which to me and others who have done this through the years... We are now (or at least I am now alledged to be guilty) of defacing, slashing or confisicating signs in Radacks district that were illegally placed according to the State law Section 393.002 and 393.003 and 393.005 of the Transportation Code, in our Public Right-o-Ways. Neighborhood organizations have been doing what I did tonight for years... 6 elderly ladies in Braeswood. a retired man from the N.W. 1960 area, the other day I talked to Jon Lindsay's secretary and she took part in taking them down years ago...so many to mention...A month ago a sheriff NW Chamber meeting asked if I had any brothers to help out...and removing signs... If it wasnt for the community people removing the signs, Your Taxes would go up to hire an official to remove them or you are going to have the worst Blight in the Houston area. Well if this goes to court, it may be the best thing to bring it to light to the public, and if the gossip is right that Home Builders signs are allowed up on weekends, and the county looks the other way... It would be interresting to see the Home Builders campaign contributions. (and that is the talk). Hell they have permanent signs up all week with a couple 4x4's and piece of nicely painted plywood.. without sign permits...While everyone else pays for sign permits in front of their businesses. Thats the way it was in the back 40 tonight. rainbo,... but Judge Judy, I am innocent....

Wed, Nov 10, 1999, 3:47pm To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net Subject: Re: Strip the strip Hi Rick.... There are no plans yet. By the way, I spoke to Lt. Overstreet of the Harris Co. Sheriff's office at Clay Rd. Your experience has caused them to retrain their officers at a few roll calls. Your problem won't happen again. They will also begin giving out tickets.   Good job! It made a difference!! Larry

osanchez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us (orlando sanchez) Date: Thu, Dec 9, 1999, 3:34pm (CDT-1) To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net Subject: Bandit Signs December 9, 1999 Dear Mr. Hurt: As promised, my office has followed your concern. Representatives from the City of Houston Municipal Channel have indicated they will take your comments under advisement as the City prepares for the next election. My office will send them a reminder at that time. Please don't hesitate to contact my office in the future. Sincerely, Orlando Sanchez Council Member, At Large Position 3

Date: Sat, Jan 8, 2000, 9:10am Subject: Bandit signs - PROGRESS !!!!! Houston NW Chamber of Commerce Good morning, all..... Here's a note from our star sign killer, Ricky Hurt. Those of you who come to the Crime Awareness meetings know him and his dedication. Yesterday was a good day. Not only did he call the police to ticket someone he caught, I did the same and got two guys ticketed on 1960 and Walters Rd in the afternoon. Thanks to the Constables for a quick response on my call !! Subj:   Bandit Sign Saturday report Date:   01/08/2000 4:28:14 AM Central Standard Time From:   rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Ricky Hurt) To: Larry This morning about 2 am I decided to catch the one putting up bandit (homebuilders) signs along the 249... (besides I needed to get some milk at the store).... So cruising the freeway and taking down signs off the utility poles along the right o ways and getting some milk....just killing time. Well about 3:15 am caught the guy putting up the signs along 249 and beltway 8.   Contacted the sheriffs office 713 221-6000, and explained the situation and told her I was going east on 249 and was about a half mile behind him... and that he should be coming up to the sheriffs storefront area.... then I passed him and about 10 minutes later circled back... And the driver was pulled over by a sheriff... a few minutes later circled back to go home and as I passed the scene there were 3 cop cars... at the scene .... WHOPPIE !!! According to one of the officers at the meeting thursday... (the tall one) he said to me after the meeting he stopped this guy before. I described the truck and license number and he also had a lot of kaufman and broad signs...same guy...so you can contact the officer and tell him he was caught this morning at 3:30sm... working in the rain... i plan to do this again...getting an idea of when certain ones work and narrowing it down to a time ... and letting the officers do the work.... less trash for me to take care of and trips to the county dumpster.... Maybe an idea for others, instead of taking care of a big area... a few people concentrating on a small area in their part of town and then making phone calls...with officers picking up the culprits... WOO !!!! WOOO!!! rick hurt

From: oschille@pwe.ci.houston.tx.us (Building Services) Date: Mon, Feb 28, 2000, 1:53pm (CDT-1) To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Ricky Hurt) Cc: shartgrove@P&D.ci.houston.tx.us Subject: RE: Bandit Signs Ricky, I got your message. Great idea about PSA on the Municiapl Channel. The more citizens that are aware of the laws the more that will most likely want to obey the law. I was very pleased at the positive response to your web site and the coverage from Channel 11 and 13. I would like to suggest that our Public Information Office in Planning and Development assist the Municipal Channel in preparing the PSA. I wonder if we should begin development now so that it can be used in the national election this fall. The sign problem grows when there are local, state and national elections. I will also make sure that Robert follows-up with you concerning the incident that happened on Saturday. Again, through Planning and Development and thier involvement with the Super Neighborhoods we can assure that they are aware of the laws and that they do not approve of builders or others placing the signs on the right-of-way. In the future, if conforted I would rather you give them the signs than place yourself at risk. As much as your efforts are appreciated and you are really making a difference, I would not want you to be harmed. Thanks again for your interest in this problem. I am sending this message and your message to the public information office in Planning. Ollie Schiller -----Original Message----- From: Ricky Hurt [mailto:rainbodeklown@webtv.net] Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 12:36 PM To: osanchez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us; oschille@pwe.ci.houston.tx.us Subject: Fwd: Bandit Signs Orlando, Ollie, and Robert: Orlando, below is an e-mail you sent me Dec 9, 1999 concerning Bandit signs and was wondering how the idea of (PSA's) are developing. After channel 11 and 13 did a segment about illegal bnndit signs... so many people came up to me and stated they did not realize the signs along public right-o-ways and on utility poles was illegal.... But I guess some still do not realize it is against the law... like home builders,... This past saturday afternoon Feb, 26, 2000... a man passed me recklessly in his vehicle and abruptly stopped sideways in front of me on Waugh drive... and jumped out of his vehicle and said "what are you doing with my signs... these are my signs... we are trying to beautify the neighborhood with new homes".... and then he opened the back door of my vehicle.... reached in and retreived the signs... It was a TENSE moment.... and still the law enforcers call it a low priority.... I remember the guy who owned the signs say... we recieved permission from the civic associations to put the signs up on weekends... If the associations said that, well it doesn't make it legal.... There is a state law and city ordinance... When we arrived at the NEARtown Police station... and made our remarks... At one time the officer called the D.A. office and they said according to the officer...."If the city saw them, they would have removed them from the right-o-way... The license plate number TX plate, C11WWC..... and there is a record of the confrontation...@ neartown hpd storefront. Orlando, concerning the possibility of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) maybe it would be a good idea to get the District Attorney... to make a statement that it is illegal to place a sign on public right-o-ways... and that includes signs placed on road ways on weekends.... I keep hearing home builders saying they recieved permission from local civic groups... Just recently I noticed more political signs moved to private land and off rightoways, so the message is getting out...... there are still a few up.... but I think many are getting the message.... The big excuse for others: Well the homebuilders do it.... thanks for reading...the Bandit Slasher Ricky Hur

Date: Mon, Mar 13, 2000, 5:58pm To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net Subject: CAUSS post We read your post regarding the spam in Houston and its continued proliferation. The CAUSS members here in Dallas are acutely aware of the over run areas in Houston, primarily in northwest and the Galleria areas. We have made attempts to organize a "Cleansing party" to come to Houston primarily to generate some interest in recruiting new "Sign Sharks" in the Houston area. So far we can't seem to get everyone available in the same time frame. We did a Public Awareness Demonstration in January and received some very good press on all the local TV stations that night. The PAD was done at one of the busiest intersections at the exit point from one of the more affluent areas of Dallas, leading into a major shopping center equivalent to your Galleria. Traffic is so heavy on Saturdays that it takes two and sometimes three signal light changes to get through. This gave us plenty of time to approach stopped cars and pass our handouts to the stopped cars. The press was so good that a sister TV station in Houston contacted us requesting we do a PAD in Houston. I'll be happy to provide you with the details of this person should you be interested. I can assure you, it works, as evidenced by our web site hits during the month following the PAD. We experienced the same problems last summer here in the Dallas MetroPlex area as you are now having in the Houston area. The whole area was over run with sign spam to a degree it took almost daily policing in order to bring the out of control spamming under control. However, with persistence and team work, we did it. Several of our members had face to face confrontations with some of the MLM "Work at Home" jokers. We developed a method of placing license numbers from their vehicles, web site administrators/owners, home address's and home telephone numbers and just about every kind of personal information you can get. It wasn't long before the spammers began using "hired moles and mules" to do their dirty work, people were calling their home phone numbers all hours of the day and night. The system we use now, in our opinion, is much more environmentally correct than painting over the signs or placing "stickers" over an already very bad "eyesore." We first used the "slicing and dicing" bit, by cutting off the bottom half of the sign which includes the telephone numbers, there by rendering the sign "useless." Some of the sharks were using a "Zorro" or "V" cut to render the sign useless. We began receiving complaints from various parties indicating we were causing more of an eyesore than the sign itself, so we stopped and began to cut the signs on both sides, leaving about a two inch strip on the pole. That's when the postings started to decrease in the number of signs being replaced. After that, with a lot of dialogue with the Local Code Enforcement agencies around, we began knocking the signs down with our "high sticks" that one of our brother sharks perfected. We have put so much heat on the Local CE offices that all we do now is place a call to report signs being placed in the right of ways. We always tell these folks, "if you don't get them today, some of the sharks will." We have threatened to place over a thousand signs on City Hall steps or in City Council Chambers if CE doesn't get off their butts and do their job. We even went as far as to take a full trailer load down to the CE office to validate our threats, that also gets their attention. In case you're interested, I have some left over "handouts" from our PAD that have been very effective as a cover sheet in making up file documents and photos for our meetings with the various CE officers. I will be more than happy to send you a "double handful" if you can provide me with an address in which to send them. It doesn't need to be a home address, some place such as work, parents address, girl friend's, etc., so longs as it's deliverable by USPS. Good luck, you're going to need it in Houston, from everything I hear. I have a business meeting in Houston set sometime around the 15th of April. I'll let you know when I'm coming and possibly arrange a meeting. Anything we can do to help you recruit more sign sharks, let us know. Just out of curiosity, how did you hear about "CAUSS"? Best regards, GreatWhite-BountyHunter (GWBH) aka/ signbuster@aol.com

rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Bandit Slasher) Date: Tue, Mar 28, 2000, 1:21pm (CDT-1) To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net Subject: Bandit Signs Today my topic is the unsightly Bandit Signs along our roadways.... It is spring time... and with beautiful weather... the ones hired to put up bandit signs will soon be out in force again... I was very impressed when the Mayor was able to get 500 people this past weekend to clean up the area around the Downtown Diamond. Something about to impress the people of the beauty of Houston... Well to get to the Houston Downtown Diamond people are going to have travel along blighted roadways. I appreciate the work of the sign administration in all the work they have done to rid the roadways of BANDIT SIGNS..... Well the handful of people from the sign administration needs a little help from the neighborhoods... to accomplish the roadways clear of Bandit Signs. If we can get 500 people to clean the area around a baseball diamond.... Maybe we can get each district in Houston to provide volunteers to clean the signs in their neighborhood... A couple months ago Bruce Tatro contacted one of his constituents in Spring Branch... about my bandit sign web site... and we are now working together....and we hardly ever meet except on the internet. A woman from the RiverOaks roadwomen introduced me to a national web site about Bandit Signs... which is based in Dallas Texas it is .... www.causs.org. Citizens Against Ugly Street Spam. I suggested, to Orlando Sanchez that we need a Public Service Announcement, I understand he is working on that with the municipal channel. What we need to do? More enforcement of the Bandit Sign law, by the police... if they observe people placing the signs up... To have elected officials to state that it is against the law to place illegal Bandit Signs along our roadways.... And that includes the weekend blight put up along our roadways by the HOME Builders... The home builders believe they have a special priviledge because they bring Beauty to the Neighborhood and improve the area.... There is no special priviledge.... Those breaking the Bandit sign laws... say, who are you?   and my answer is .. A Citizen .... A citizen activist.... They think you have to be a person of authority. But according to the sign administration we as citizens can remove the signs along public right - o -ways... How about a month of public awareness regarding Bandit Signs....what do you think Mayor Brown....

osanchez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us (Orlando Sanchez) Date: Fri, Apr 21, 2000, 11:31am To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Bandit Slasher) Subject: Re: Bandit Signs (Should be put on Agenda Issue) at City Hall April 21, 2000 Dear Mr. Hurt: Thank you for your most recent letter. We have forwarded your e-mail to Chief Bradford, requesting a response. Also, we've sent you a copy of our memo to Debra Veal at the Municipal Channel, again requesting PSAs on bandit signs. Sincerely, Orlando Sanchez Council Member, At-Large Position 3 Bandit Slasher wrote: It is going to be a long hot summer... and I and others are not going to give up on this Bandit Sign issue... Many of the group of people concerned are not as visible as I, but they are out there.... and someone is going to get hurt... and this is why... When people call the HPD dispatch on the weekends, they refuse to go out and enforce the laws(involving bandit signs)... One dispatcher said, "contact the Mayors office... " and of course that office is closed on weekends, how convienient for the home builders. If you go to the HPD storefronts, the officer will point to the phone (to contact the dispatcher)... and of course the officers at the storefronts will not respond...(they consider it LOW PRIORITY). I guess class C misdeameanors get a free ride on weekends... or is it just the rich home builders. I talked to the wife of the president of the Hyde Park United Association, and she considers that disturbing... The Sign Administration says Bandit Signs are illegal 7-24-365 including holidays... someone needs to explain that to HPD storefronts and dispatchers, and enforce the law. It is kind of difficult explaining the law to someone, who is placing a sign up in the right-o-ways when they are carrying a Ball-Peen hammer in one hand... Saturday morning about 10:30 am April 15 as I was getting gasoline at Dunlavy and West Dallas, I observed a man putting a sign up along the right-o-way for Lovett Homes... all I said "Did you know that it is illegal to put up those signs along the right-o-ways?"   Coming to toward me with his ball-peen hammer in hand, "Are you that clown that tears down the signs?" and then he went on to explain that his lawyer said it was ok to put up his signs and that what I was doing was illegal.... Well I gave him one of my fliers, www.causs.org and tried to avoid him as much as I could...Hey, he was carrying a ball-peen hammer... and I was on my way to the Art Car Parade... I guess the situation would be HIGH PRIORITY with HPD if the guy would have come at me with the hammer... and the motive would have been citizen taking a stand on illegal Bandit Signs which HPD considers low priority... City leaders, such as the mayor and council need to be vocal on the Bandit Sign issue (media exposure) and... Inform all violators including the Home Builders that it is illegal to put their signs up (even if it is on weekends) along our roadways... It should also be a concerted effort with the county and state. The violators do not consider the comments from common citizens, legitimate....their favourite comment "Who are YOU????... And the violators may take physical action against the citizens who clean the blight from the streets... I am sending this message to the office of the Mayor, City Council members, and the Code Enforcers of the Sign Administration, so you need not forward this to the Sign Administration.... but deal with the issue from your CITY HALL desk. Hopefully the aids of the respected names from city hall will make sure their bosses read this, because i guarantee it is going to be a long hot summer..... Ricky Hurt the Bandit Slasher

smacdonald@centeramerica.com (MacDonald, Scott) Date: Wed, Apr 26, 2000, 10:54am To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net Cc: mtones@centeramerica.com (Tones, Mike) Subject: RE: Illegal SIGNS along the roadways in front of your properties. Thanks for your comments. I have asked our property managers to keep on the look out for such signs and remove them if they are on our property. However, these signs are often located in the public right-a-way spaces between the street and our property. We cannot legally remove these signs. Typically, if they are located in a grass or planted strip between the street and our parking area, they are probably not on our property, and we have no legal right to remove them. In such cases, you should contact local government authorities and ask they enforce current ordinances including the applicable sign ordinance. We have approximately 110 properties and cannot police our centers continuously. I suspect these signs are typically put up on weekends when our property managers are at home with their families. However, if you witness specific examples of illegal signs on specific properties we own, please send an email to mtones@centeramerica.com with the details and we will send a letter of complaint to the offending party demanding they cease such activity. Thanks for insights. CenterAmerica has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years eliminating multiple sign poles on our properties and replacing them with consolidated pylons. We believe this reduces visual blight and provides a more attractive image to our customers and potential customers. We have also instituted sign design criteria for each center to help insure coordinated signage on our buildings. -----Original Message----- From: rainbodeklown@webtv.net [mailto:rainbodeklown@webtv.net] Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 5:58 PM To: maxelrod@centeramerica.com; cclifton@centeramerica.com; egalvez@centeramerica.com; jowens@centeramerica.com; mregan@centeramerica.com; bthomason@centeramerica.com; smacdonald@centeramerica.com Subject: Illegal SIGNS along the roadways in front of your properties. To whom it may concern. CEO, Vice president and property managers: In the past couple years more and more illegal signs are appearing along the right-o-ways and on your property... They are commonly called "Bandit Signs". Some of these signs are on utility poles, and on stakes, for a variety of businesses including home builders. I and many others have put up with this BLIGHT long enough and would hope you could help by police-ing your properties... For years neighborhood volunteers have been removing the BLIGHT from the right-o-ways but are unable to remove the BLIGHT from your private property, specifically on weekends, when the homebuilders put up their signs... my web site will give you an example of what your property looks like on weekends... http://community.webtv.net/rainbodeklown/BANDITSIGNS   pages 2-3 (near jones on 1960). The homebuilders must get permission to place their illegal (not permitted signs) on private property.... Do they recieve such permission, from your property...? Do you really approve of this type of Blight on the right-o-ways in front of your property??? Many citizens drive these roadways on weekends and must put up with this unsightly Blight... Residential volunteers who work weekends do not have the facilities to pick up all these signs... Some have settled with slashing or defacing the signs, which can make your properties look worse. So we are calling on your help.... and other realty (business) property owners to police and even call the homebuilders to STOP placing these signs in front of your property. Homebuilders think they have special weekend privileges... they do not in Houston metro/ Harris county. 7/24/365. It is difficult to enforce on weekends, because the police seem to have higher priorities on weekends.... So your property becomes Blighted....and un-appealing. Why did I contact you ? One weekend, I drove around observing all the BANDIT SIGNS.... and noticed the property owners such as yours Center America... and others like Weingartens, Betz, Gulf Coast Commercial Group... and wrote down all the information... some I will email and some I will phone...and i am not done compiling this list. Another group, I plan to contact the major oil companies and to encourage them to memo their franchises to police their area, when they clean their lots. The people are just tired of the BLIGHT and that is nationwide... another website based in Dallas is www.causs.org read the causs forum.... citizens against ugly street spam. thank you for reading, Can We Depend On Your Help.... ----- this letter will be forwarded to others involved in removing bandit signs... ----- ricky hurt 281-448-0959 or respond to me by email.. -------------------------

Reply is requested ---------------- Start Complaint Message ---------------- Complaint Statement I recently contacted by email local state representatives and senators, county and city elected officials, community activists, and the media. It concerns the lack of enforcement of the "bandit signs" specifically on weekends along our state and interstate roadways. These signs are either placed illegally on the right-o-way or OFF Premice along private property... These signs are illegal and blight the roadways. There are no special provisions given to anyone including homebuilders to blight our roadways on the weekends according to some of the legislatures I have contacted... I also found it interresting that the governor of texas GWBUSH is the one who appointed the board members of the TXDOT. Since there is a law about the illegal signage the TXDOT board members should uphold the laws and inform the homebuilders to stop blighting the roadways with their signs. In the houston area that is 6, 1960,10,249,290,45, 59 and other state roads. I am considering a protest most lik! ely in the katy area on 10 about the above concerns...GWBUSH appointed the parole board and he always states that they uphold the law...it is time for the appointed GWBUSH TXDOT to OBEY and Uphold the law. There have been situations were citizens doing the state's job of removing the signs have been injured or terrorized by the homebuilders sign "jockeys". One incident of an injury was reported and a threat was also made on a web site www.causs.org well I forwarded that information to the houston@FBI.gov Why do your mowers cut the grass and weeds around the permanent type signs that are illegal.. They are basicly the signs with 4x4 posts and painted plywood...they are illegal... and why dont your clean up crews on the weekdays pick up the bandit signs in the ground and on utility poles...???? rick hurt ...doing your job on 249 between 45 and 8 in my neighborhood....also other areas. -----------p.s. open the truck weigh stations for better road safety...if the houston city task can remove 8 out 10 unsafe trucks off the road... just how many can the state remove..... just last night on the news chat lines we talked about all the above GWBUSH appointed TXDOT board. Resolution Requested: To have cleaner roadways everyday.... "No Bandit Signs of any kind...along medians, right-o-ways, and off premise signs..." TXDOT officials could and should inform the abusers (such as the homebuilders)... they think they bring a better tax base to the area... so says other businesses also...they should not get any special treatment. and a suggestion monitor.... www.causs.org citizens against ugly street spam.... national site based in Dallas, Texas. Also open all state Truck weigh stations for our safety. ---------------- End Complaint

Re: Complaint The Texas Department of Transportation appreciates your efforts to keep the right-of-ways clear of signage and debris. The placement of signs in the right-of-way has been an issue of contention for many years. Our policy has been developed in accordance with state laws as well as local jurisdictions. First, you must understand that the department has no enforcement capabilities; TxDOT is not an enforcement agency. The state agency responsible for the enforcement of state law is the Texas Department of Public Safety. TxDOT builds highways; DPS issues tickets. Second, our responsibility is to maintain a safe environment. While the signs are often a nuisance, they are not a hazard. TxDOT work crews tend to work Monday to Friday. As you are aware, most of the illegal signs tend to appear Saturday morning and are taken down Sunday evening. Third, these signs are a commercial investment and, although illegally placed on public property, the signs are private property. The state is loathe to willfully destroy private property without some recourse. Signs gathered from the right-of-way are held for two weeks, time for the owners to claim their property. With signs that are more extensive, TxDOT will allow the owners time to move the sign to a new, legal location. Some sign owners have acted rashly in defending signs; they are, of course, defending their livelihoods. Suggestions as to increasing the number of persons employed in scouring the roadside for illegal signs would be costly, too costly when compared to other needs. Using enforcement agencies to reduce the number of bandit signs would result in extensive criticism * using employees to catch sign bandits when there are more pernicious crimes and criminals. Without the political will and the financial resources required to eliminate signs altogether, the state has come to accept a moderate level of sign pollution. If you additional comments or request for information, please contact the Public Information Office at 713-802-5072.

Date: Tue, Jul 11, 2000, 9:26pm To: NWIGING@mailgw.dot.state.tx.us, Mayor@ci.houston.tx.us, aparker@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, bkeller@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, btatro@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, cgallowa@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, crobinso@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, cbell@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, gvasquez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, gquan@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, jboney@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, jcastill@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, mellis@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, mgoldber@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, osanchez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, rtodd@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us, rnorris@pwe.ci.houston.tx.us, al.edwards@house.state.tx.us, david.bernsen@senate.state.tx.us, debra.danburg@house.state.tx.us, dora.olivo@house.state.tx.us, garnet.coleman@house.state.tx.us, jessica.farrar@house.state.tx.us, joe.crabb@house.state.tx.us, joe.nixon@house.state.tx.us, john.culberson@house.state.tx.us, john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us, ken.yarbrough@house.state.tx.us, kevin.bailey@house.state.tx.us, mario.gallegos@senate.state.tx.us, peggy.hamric@house.state.tx.us, rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us, ron.wilson@house.state.tx.us, sylvester.turner@house.state.tx.us, Meek@fox26.com, BBishop@khou.com, chris.hanson@abc.com, Matthew.Schwartz@chron.com, Subject: [han-net] Fwd: Re: Complaint (TXDOT response on "Bandit Signs" To Norm of TxDOT, welcome to my little email audience...many of these people have known me for months concerning the "Bandit Sign" issue. (now based on your email below) First you state that TxDOT has no enforcement capabilities. TxDOT builds highways. That is true, but they also maintain those highways (i have seen the TxDOT vehicles) by mowing and clean-up crews as you state monday thru fridays, just forget the tourist industry and local family outings on weekends, right Norm. You also state that "the signs are a commercial investment, although illegal, are private property". This illegal private propery called commercial inve$$$tment is nothing but TRASH.   And there are laws about placing this trash along our highways, it is Texas Transportation Code 362-363 the law. You say it would be costly, how much would it cost to tell the abusers of the law, "trashing our roadways will not be tolerated"... Are you saying Norm, that the homebuilders would not listen to the state and continue to be stubborn and DISOBEY the law for their own GREEDY inve$$$tment and defending their livelihoods. Norm, as you sit in your office chair you may have come to the conclusion that the state has come to accept a moderate level of sign pollution..... Well I haven't. while the rest of those on this list read your response to my email which is also included below.... Norm why don't you check out my web page and all the other links concerning BANDIT SIGNS. http://community.webtv.net/rainbodeklown/BANDITSIGNS The TxDOT district leader clarifys in a response letter....can be found @ http://community.webtv.net/rainbodeklown/TxDOTRESPONDS

osanchez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us (Orlando Sanchez) Date: Thu, Jul 20, 2000, 9:41am To: rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Bandit Slasher) Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Complaint (TXDOT response on "Bandit Signs" July 20, 2000 Dear Mr. Hurt: Thought you would be interested to know, the Public Service Announcement for Bandit Signs began airing today on the Municipal Channel. We will e-mail a log as soon as we receive one. Sincerely, Orlando Sanchez Council Member, At-Large Position 3

rainbodeklown@webtv.net (Bandit Slasher) Date: Mon, May 8, 2000, 5:23am To: pct3@co.harris.tx.us, Matthew.Schwartz@chron.com Subject: Re-educate your deputies: Saturday morning about 12:15... I observed a man putting up homebuilders signs along the right-o-way on jones and 1960. I called the county dispatch... and then after the guy left.. I removed the signs,,, There were a couple of deputies that arrived in the parking lot... but there response was "oh they putem up on friday and take them down on sunday"... So I decided to go down jones and pick up the signs... The guy was on to me and basicly chased me back (cat and mouse game) to the parking lot at 1960/jones...where I knew there was a deputy... seeing the deputy, he left... Well i talked to this deputy, (believe his name was Tannery or Flannery) ... He said I was committing THEFT for taking the signs.... ( you know the ones illegally placed on the right-o-ways). He is wrong. I told him, I recieved an email from the crime awareness chairman of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, that someone in the afternoon had put up (satellite signs on 1960- westward of 45). Well I tore them down...(the lifespan of bandit signs in the northwest houston is less than a day, because we network). Well the deputy asked me what I did with the satellite signs (digital tv)... I told him they will be in the county dumpster in a day or so.... Well the officer's response was... "That is THEFT." To tell the truth Mr. Radack... it is cleaning up trash. So we have to put up with this blight every weekend... The deputies call it low priority, and if the deputies do not enforse the law as the guys drive down the state road (like 1960, 290, 249) and put up the signs...then nothing is done, because it is now the states job to remove those signs and they do not have the man power, (well that is what they say). Well I am tired of all this blight on the roadways... and at the Westhiemer Street Festival... I put up a Public Awareness booth with pictures of the bandit signs on the roadways and the laws. And the reaction from the people... they are tired of it also... A guy from Tomball mentioned..."We were talking about all these bandit signs as we were coming here to the festival today(pointing to the pictures of the homebuilders signs) and we are tired of seeing them". Well I told him to just tear them down....others were mentioning about the area over on westheimer and 6. Others mentioned about all the signs in the Katy area. And I told them to tear them down also... One man was so animated, and said, "Some times I would just like to get out of my car and kickem and jump on them". Oh he went on and on jumping up and down...guess I struck a nerve with him... A couple weeks ago I followed some of these homebuilders signs...to their plush neighborhoods... and was greeted with a sign at the entrance. "Deed Restrictions Strictly Enforced Here". I find this so hypocritical...that I have to put up with this Blight along our Public Roads and the homes are in a deed restricted area... We want our Road Ways Back... A couple weeks ago, I drove down the road and wrote down all the property owners which have illegally placed signs. I sent letters to these property owners, such as CenterAmerica, Weingartens, Betz, etc etc... asking them if they approve illegal bandit signs on their property and or on right-o-ways in front of their property? My first response from the CEO of Center America (which has 110 properties in metro houston area.... said NO.... Waiting for others to respond... The chair of crime awareness at the Northwest Chamber thinks this approach is good idea... He also said i should give a speech at commissioners court... i told him I did in November, but everyone seemed to be glazed over about the issue (low priority)... The city seems more interrested... and i have recently seen more of an improvement with the city.... I say it as I see it. Oh in closing, the officer at jones/1960 told me I needed to get in touch with the District Attorney,,, i told him, where do you think I got this information? (I showed him a print out from the District Attorney Johnny Holmes).... you can also forward this over to my commissioner... Commissioner Eversole, since he doesn't have a public email address for his constituents. i am still waiting for some action on those cheap unregulated makeshift billboards at veterans memorial/west road.   The CAD said it would take some time...Well I first asked about it in September... now there are alot more on veterans memorial... you know on the way to the national cemetary and that nice Doss community center.... Ricky Hurt

Subject: I Want Results, and a Sheriff wants to arrest me...@bandit signs to elected officials, government employees, citizen activists and the media, i have been seeking results involved in removing the blight along our roadways specifically "Bandit Signs". There have been community activists involved. I have noticed cleaner roadways in the city of houston... But, the county and state roads especially on weekends, well the roadways look like HELL ! Saturday, July 29, at approximately 2:30 am I observed a man putting up "homebuilders signs" along 1960 between Jones and 290. At the intersection of Jones and 1960 noticed a sheriff pull in a Mexican restaurant parking lot... he entered took care of the situation... came outside and I informed him of a man putting up "homebuilders signs". The officer, said "I have dealt with you before on this issue". And to think of it yes he did, with his arms folded in an I DONT CARE ATTITUDE. That happened on May 6... and now on July 29 at 2:30am...he (Flannery or Tannery) refused to help me deal with the man putting up the bandit signs. Two other sheriff cars pulled up with 4 officers present and standing on the sidewalk, one of the officers said we will deal with it monday. So I left, and drove to the nearest phone and called county dispatch....and requested an officer to be dispatched regarding the man blighting the roadways with signs. Then I observed 15 minutes later the two sheriffs cars just casually drive by the man putting up the signs. And the other officer's car remained in the back parking lot of the restaurant. I couldn't believe it, but then again, that is why the roadways are blighted with signs every weekend. I had some personal business to take care of, but within a halfhour I was back on 1960 and jones road... This time I observed the homebuilder sign "jockey" and a sheriff flashing their headlights at each other... in acknowledgment of each other and the man pulled right up on the side of the road while the sheriff drove by... no enforcement.... is it really I don't care or is it some form of CORRUPTION between (some) sheriffs and homebuilders. At about 4am, I returned home and contacted the dispatcher about the last incident,... and she informed me the sheriffs were notified an hour an half ago... and that I should talk to the sergeant at clay road sheriffs station. At 10:00pm saturday night I arrived at the clay station... I talked to an officer at the window...officer jugenheimer (not sure if he was a sergeant) I explained to him the situation, as reported above. With arms folded, his attitude was he did not care. Wanted to know, what authority I have to be concerned about the blighted roadways; wanted to know my reasons, such as competive employment (which there is none). I tried to show him the law but he was not interrested.... He asked me something about what was the code for such a law.... I said it was 362 363 of the transportation code.... which you can plainly see on the bottom of all the political signs that will be going up next week. Officer Jugenheimer, said never seen it... I told him well I will be tearing them down along with all the other bandit signs if they are in the right-o-ways or on telephone poles -----this is when it got interresting---- The officer then said, What is your name, ( I told him) your birthdate (you dont need that) but my phone number is 281-448-0959 which I told the dispatcher.... "Well Mr. Hurt if I catch you tearing down signs, I will have you arrested for destroying personal property". And I said, "they are illegally placed on right-o-ways and telephone poles". And he continued to say, "That is personal property and I will have you arrested....". As I left, because he was in a frenzy, I said,"you better learn the law first". It is really ironic, I am at a luncheon, June 8, 2000, sitting at a table with the crime awareness chair of Northwest Chamber, and constables and sheriffs, recieving an award for tearing down "bandit signs" and officer Jugenheimer at the Clay street station is telling me.... "I will have you arrested for destroying or tearing down signs (illegaly placed) because it is there personal property". And on any weekend, other officers acknowledging and allowing homebuilders to blight our roadways. I am not saying officers should not deal with the major crimes like murder, robbery, etc.... but when you see the roadways blighted every weekend.... and cops and hombuilders wink at the law... there is something wrong... 0 tolerance... rick hurt