Feds: NYC must remove Times Square billboards, or lose $90 million in highway spending

[The Mad Monk]

[giblets]

In response to a request for comment, both the NYC DOT and the U.S. DOT denied that the federal government was in any way threatening to revoke funding. Doug Hecox, a public affairs representative with the Federal Highway Administration, stated:

FHWA has been working with the New York State DOT and the New York City DOT for nearly a year to correct this unintentional consequence of extending the National Highway System (NHS). At no time has FHWA asked NYCDOT to remove the billboards from Times Square or threatened to withhold federal funds. FHWA and NYSDOT have discussed the possibility of removing the NHS designation from specific roadways, and FHWA stands ready to act if we receive that request from the state.

An NYC DOT spokesperson wrote in an email that "The signage will not be removed," and that the agency is working with federal and state officials to "identify a solution in which signage will remain unchanged. Additionally, funding will not be affected."

http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/05/no-the-feds-are-not-requiring-times-square-to-remove-its-billboards/392657/

[The Mad Monk]

But that does run contrary to the information available on the FHWA website, which includes a statement that, on the principal arterials now classified as national highways, "the penalty for not providing effective control of outdoor advertising remains at 10 percent of the funds that would otherwise be apportioned to the State[.]"

So Times Square is saved, what about the rest of the "dramatic expansion of the National Highway System"?

[The Mad Monk]

Also, under what set of circumstances does Times Square qualify as a "principal arterial" to anywhere??? That artery needs a stent!

[The Mad Monk]

Nice avatar, BTW.

[giblets]

I don't understand how they've been "working" for "nearly a year" on this.

[jsorense]

Not that I would dream of changing topics, but IIRC the CSA battle flag is square.

[H Tower]

Not that I would dream of changing topics, but IIRC the CSA battle flag is square.

It doesn't have a rainbow background either.

[Hauldren Collider]

Not that I would dream of changing topics, but IIRC the CSA battle flag is square.

The Army of Northern Virginia's flag was square. The Army of Tennessee had a rectangular version. The latter is usually referred to as the confederate flag.

[giblets]

nice googling

[Thoth]

How much highway infra can you actually build for $90 million? I'm guessing the answer is "not very much".


In which case: Who ****ing cares if NYC looses the funding or not?

[kentonio]

In which case: Who ****ing cares if NYC looses the funding or not?

I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and guess that somehow this is an attack on someones 'freedoms'.

[Fake Boris]

Times Square would be so much better if it displayed art rather than ads

[giblets]

That's true for all advertising space.

[ZEE]

The information cKontained in this thrade is cKriticKal to my PhysicKal, and mental, well-Being.