Since this is a political wonk site you are aware that signs of a political nature are exempt from zoning laws. Why else would we see the proliferation of them every election season? But someone in the City of Milpitas California wants to stifle that speech.
An innocuous sign no larger than the average political yard sign is at the heart of a complaint by the city towards one of their residents. Making an issue about a political yard sign is a losing proposition by the city but like many municipalities regarding OWS bowing to their corporate masters is more important than honoring Constitutional rights. I hope the home owner sues for harassment as well.
City of Milpitas has ordered resident Rob Means to remove a political sign from the front yard of his home because it does not conform to city zoning laws.
The red, white and blue sign, reading "We Are The 99%," is in front of his home on the 1400 block of Yellowstone Avenue. In December, city staff claimed Means' sign about 2 square feet in size appeared to be permanent and as such could not stay as it was in violation of the city's sign ordinance.
"Permanent signs erected for the purpose of announcements or nameplates shall not exceed 1-square-foot," Gloria Anaya, the city's senior housing and neighborhood preservation specialist, wrote in a Dec. 5 letter to Means.