Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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OverviewAre they good for business or bad for scenery? Salt Lake City renews a battle with the billboard industry. Hear differing perspectives on the merits of billboards from a city planner and industry insider. Plus more than 40 years ago the first Earth Day ushered in the beginning of the modern environmental movement. On this Earth Day, we'll discuss the popularity of going green. Finally, remembering Dick Clark.
Segment One
The latest thing in outdoor advertising is the electronic billboard. Are they enhancements or eyesores? A battle over electronic billboards is playing out across the country. Some states, counties and cities have banned them. Others allow them only as replacements for a certain number of existing billboards. In Utah, the battle ground is Salt Lake City. The mayor's office says the emergence of electronic billboards caught the city off guard. Six of them were installed before city planners had formulated a policy for them. Now, 19 requests for digital billboard conversions are being held up while city officials work to come up with an ordinance to regulate them. Joining us for the discussion were Wilf Sommerkorn, planning director for Salt Lake City and Jeffrey Young, Senior vice president of Young Electric Signs. In full disclosure, KSL regularly advertises on electronic billboards.
Segment Two
A whole lot of people are out trying to save the planet this weekend--or at least doing their little bit to help. Today is Earth Day, an annual observance that dates back to 1970. The original one helped launch the modern environmental movement. How much of Earth Day is symbol? How much is substance? We had two guests today to discuss efforts in Utah to sustain our environment: Amy Collins from TreeUtah and Michael Johnson, an organizer of the Live Green SLC Festival.
Segment Three
In our "Story of the Week" we paid tribute to American TV and music legend Dick Clark. Jed Boal visited a local restaurant dedicated to the man known as "the world's oldest teenager." He also visited with several people who met Dick Clark.
