To the editor:
It is very difficult for us to understand why the Deseret News, which prides itself on truth and accuracy, continues an apparent tradition of publishing distorted, unrealistic telephoto pictures that compress several blocks into what appears to be a few hundred feet and thereby totally misrepresents the view.The eye cannot possibly see what the distorted picture shows - a lie in print.
In some areas there may be too many signs. Maybe there are also too many businesses, too many jobs, too much commercial property, too many shoppers and so on. Is the answer to get rid of all commerce and have nothing but aesthetically pleasing vistas on every side? Obviously not.
The answer is for all of us to work cooperatively to improve what we have. To make it look better and work better for all of us.
The sign industry has worked untiringly for many years to help our cities and towns rewrite existing ordinances and establish new ordinances to reflect community standards.
We have had considerable input into almost every sign ordinance now in place, and we do our best to encourage all to abide by the ordinances, to conform to the regulations, take permits, etc.
Many of the current problems come about from lack of enforcement of existing ordinance provisions. This encourages those who do not abide by the law to put up whatever they want wherever they want because they can usually get away with it. If there is no commitment to enforcement, then the ordinance has little value.
We could take issue with some other statements in the article, but suffice it to say that the "legitimate" sign industry in Utah is every bit as much interested in a pleasing appearance as are the city planners and administrators and in reasonable, well-enforced ordinances which allow equal treatment for all. Please be honest in your representations.
Kirk L. Brimley
YESCO special services manager
Salt Lake City