Teaching is the best career in the world.

Seriously.

Hamilton Spectator Recognizes my Issue

A little updated regarding the complaint that I sent to the city of Hamilton:

This is the reply I received from the By-Law Municipal office:
"Good morning Claudia.

We are in receipt of your concerns regarding offensive billboard signage advertising.  Municipal Law Enforcement does not regulate the content of signage, strictly the placement and authorization of placement of signage.

You may contact Hamilton Police Services and they will investigate the content of the signage.  Also, you may wish to contact the billboard sign company to inquire as to what regulatory body they are required to conform to when installing billboard signage.

Trusting you will find this information to be of assistance.

Laura McDavid

Customer Service Officer

Municipal Law Enforcement"

As suggested, I sent an inquiry to the Hamilton Police asking where I could direct my complaint. When they didn't reply in a few days, I sent my complaint to the Hamilton Spectator. They were obviously interested and the next day called me asking for an "on-the-phone interview". I told them all the details and I told them how I felt about the issue.

A few hours later, I received a phone call from the executive to the chief of police of Hamilton. He informed me that according to Criminal Code of Canada number 163 "Intending to Corrupt Morals" as well as a case from 1992 that they looked at called "Virgina vs Butler", there is nothing that the police can do regarding the billboard because it doesn't break the law. He suggested (though he did say he didn't want to pass me around from person to person) contacting the sign company and asking them if they know that it's located across from an elementary school and if, as a member of the community who cares about what children are being exposed to, if they could move or remove it.

I didn't have to notify the company of my complaint (the location next to an elementary school) because the following day, I/my issue was featured in the Spec and they contacted the company for me. The company apologized for the location but not for the ad (I couldn't care less about the ad itself).

Here is the article, online: http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/272557--sign-location-wrong-agency

Disappointingly, the comments are nothing but negative and a lot of ad hominem attacks and attacks on who I am as a person and that's their own prerogative (everyone is entitled to an opinion, right?). I wanted my complaint to get noticed and I wanted someone to take responsibility for the poor placement of the advertisements and that happened, so I'm happy.  


And now here's to hoping it's removed, A.S.A.P.