Some Code Violations Are Acceptable, It Seems

I first noticed the ugly plastic and metal things popping up at curbs and on properties over 4 weeks ago, in early March, prior to the daffodils and crocuses.  Ughh, I thought, not again already!  Political sign pollution season is here, and it gets longer and worse every year.  How long will these useless eyesores be around for us this year to see over and over and have no positive effect whatsoever on anyone?  

It turns out that any political signs that went up in March, or that are presently in the ground, were put up too soon.  Far too soon, according to our city code. 

Hudson's City Code is explicit about when political signs are allowed to be displayed -- whether on a lawn, in a park, on a utility pole or at the curb -- and when they are to be removed.

It really bothers me that anyone is allowed to jam
 metal spikes into the soil next to sidewalk trees 

Cheapening the political system;
cheapening and defacing our public spaces.

Chapter 244-34 G Election Signs.  Temporary election signs shall not be erected more than 40 days before any election and shall be removed no more than 5 days after the election.

Since the local primary election won't be held until June 25th, political signs for that election shall not be erected prior to the middle of May.  But here we are with 3 weeks left in April -- 78 days before the election -- and there are signs for the two Assembly candidates all over the place.  Signs up today will be up for nearly twice the allowed number of days.  If the signs I saw in early March remain standing through to election day in late June, they will have been up for nearly 3 times as long as is allowed by our city code.   

More plastic and metal for the landfill!

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Code Enforcement Office that would actually be able to enforce ALL the codes in the book?  When some code violations are enforced and others aren't, you have to wonder:  Is it just not possible for CEO to enforce certain codes, or do they decide what to enforce and what not to enforce?  This can lead to all sorts of obvious problems and concerns that I won't get into.  At the very least, if a code violation isn't going to be enforced (and clearly, CEO is not enforcing chapter 244-34 G), then it should be removed from the book and reinstated if and when it is enforceable.  Otherwise, our city code is a joke -- which it kind of is at this point.

One pair of lovely aqua blue political signs can even be seen on the property of a common council member who will apparently not be voting for Claire Cousins.  I first noticed them three weeks ago, no less than 100 days before the election which the signs are advertising for!  Certain people working for City Hall don't give a crap about code violations on their own property.  They know, just like everyone else, that CEO doesn't care how long before an election the insipid plastic signs sprout or if they ever go away.

Is it 5 days or 5 years after an election that
 a political sign must be removed?