An anti-war sign displayed on the side of a building in Salida will stay put because the city has decided – at least for now – not to pursue enforcement of a municipal sign code.
The sign, hanging on a First Street building owned by Debra Juchem, says: “Kill one person and it’s murder. Kill thousands and it’s foreign policy. Stop the Iraq war now.”
City administrator Steve Golnar said action on the anti-war sign, if any, would come after a review of the sign code this fall.
He said the city was concerned about the size of the sign, not its content. The American Civil Liberties Union was prepared Monday to file a complaint in federal court, saying the sign is classic political expression protected by the First Amendment.
Juchem, who is part of the Central Colorado Coalition on the Iraq War, said she is glad the sign can stay. “I hope that certain individuals in the city don’t make this an opportunity for the sign code to be very restrictive,” Juchem said.
In a letter dated July 25, the city said the placard had to come down because a sign permit was never submitted to the city.
Juchem sent in her application and a letter, which said that she had displayed a political sign for a county commissioner for several years without any problems.
The city, in a return letter, expressed concern about the size, but also said: “Your sign does not address a specific ballot measure or candidate and while political, does not link directly to the coming election … your current sign is not the same as the election sign. …”
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
