Ask HN: What's with the billboards in San Francisco?

4 points by jakewu1982 12y ago ↗ HN

There are new billboards coming up all over San Francisco. Why have they not existed in the past? Has something changed? What can we do to stop them from ruining this beautiful city?

5 comments

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onion2k 12y ago ↗

One of the things I'd do if ever I become a billionaire is buy up as much advertising space as I can and fill it with art. Or maybe Despair Inc. posters.

shiftpgdn 12y ago ↗

An artist in Houston bought up 10-20 billboards and put photos of blue skys with clouds on them.

zachlatta 12y ago ↗

I had the unique opportunity to meet Stephen Glassman, from https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1045021696/urban-air-lo..., not too long ago. Really interesting guy who's trying to do just that - fill advertising space with art.

deadfall 12y ago ↗

I've seen a billboard in the city from a car company commercializing Nyan cat and other internet characters to try to get teens/young adults to buy their new "hip" car. What a shame.

LarryMade2 12y ago ↗

Usually billboards are regulated by city ordinances, so probably something happened in that...

ahh.. here's a related article... https://www.baycitizen.org/news/business/billboards-ban-san-...