City bus ads would weaken anti-billboard protection

Hawaii is special. As inhabitants of its largest city, we have a responsibility to protect it as best we can.

Billboards have long been identified as a threat to the natural beauty of Hawaii, especially in urban communities. Thanks to The Outdoor Circle’s advocacy in the 1920s, Hawaii adopted a statewide ban on billboards in 1927. Hawaii has some of the most highly regarded sign laws in the country, which serve to protect the hand that feeds us, our natural beauty.

It was this ban on billboards that, in 2003, protected Honolulu’s streets and skies from the images of aborted fetuses. The 9th Circuit Court ruled that because Hawaii’s billboard ban applies equally to everyone, there was no First Amendment right to express any speech in this manner, no matter what the content.

Despite this victory, today, the Caldwell city administration proposes to exploit a loophole in this law and revive an old proposal to raise funds by selling advertising on the sides of city buses. Doing this would not only undermine the basis for the 9th Circuit Court’s earlier ruling, but would undercut crucial protections for Hawaii’s visual landscape and natural beauty.

Circle members appreciate Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s attempts to address concerns about the content of bus advertisements, but these are transparent promises.

Not only is the mayor not the best arbiter of public decency, he also cannot guarantee any limitations he imposes would be upheld by future administrations or the courts. This is little comfort when forfeiting a near century of protections and setting a negative precedent for other counties to follow.

We understand that the mayor has a responsibility to balance the city budget. The Circle shares his concern for the budget and is committed to working with him to find solutions that fully fund the city, but without destroying what makes Hawaii such a visually appealing place to both residents and visitors.

Many Circle members are avid bus riders, who want to see improved and expanded bus service, without increased fares on riders. Plus, over our 100-year history, the Circle has invested heavily in Honolulu’s public parks, street trees and trails. It is heartbreaking to see our investment and the natural beauty of our island home suffer from chronic underfunding. Honolulu’s public parks and trees, already neglected, would likely be early victims in the next round of budget cuts.

However, advertising on the outside of buses will not ensure these basic public services are delivered. The city’s bus advertising program would contribute a mere 0.01 percent to the budget deficit. As such, this proposal would soil Honolulu’s scenic beauty and we would still be forced to cut basic public services.

Instead of advocating to undermine our sign laws, the mayor should instead articulate a grand vision for funding the city that both preserves Honolulu’s beauty and meets the basic needs of our people.

We know it is possible, and we look forward to an opportunity to help make it happen.