A municipal code enforcer sent a letter to Jay Simmons, telling him that his standard 4×8 Bronson for Mayor sign was too big and needed to come down from his house.
The letter, dated April 9, was signed by Bradley Larson, land use enforcement officer. It didn’t arrive for several days. It was postmarked April 14.
“I have driven by your property and verified there is a temporary sign on the property. Two temporary signs are permitted on a residential lot but each can be no larger than six square feet. The sign on your property appears to be about 4 feet by 8 feet; larger than 6 square feet. Please reduce the size of the sign,” the letter said.
Larson said he would follow up in 10 days “If I do not hear from anybody.”
“I think he sat on this thing for a minute, given who I’m supporting here (Bronson),” Simmons said.
He won’t need to.
Homeowner Jay Simmons, a retired police officer, decided he could comply with the requirements. He cut the sign in half and rehung the sign. He also said he feels the code enforcer is going after him because of who the sign is for: It supports Dave Bronson for mayor of Anchorage.
“It’s not as nice as the original sign was. This is who we support. I’m not taking the sign down, I’m not going to kneel to the Muni. We support Bronson … This is what it is,” he said.
According to the municipality, temporary political signs are exempt from local sign regulations.
