Signs, Signs, Everywhere There’s (No) Signs
Anti-Dispensary Activists Cry Foul over Theft of Political Lawn Ornaments
At the rate they’re disappearing, any remaining “Yes on T” signs will become collectors’ items, joked Santa Barbara City Councilmember Dale Francisco.
Claiming that 90 percent of their anti-dispensary placards have been stolen — and pointing to the fact that yet another has been defaced — a group of activists and elected officials held a press conference yesterday to denounce the “marijuana evangelists” who they say are so recklessly pilfering property in an attempt to defeat Measure T, the ballot initiative that would ban all medical cannabis stores in the city.
The anti-pot shop contingent gathered in front of Sebastian Aldana’s East Cota home where, according to community activist Sharon Byrne, three of his “Yes on T” signs were recently yanked out of the ground. Describing his house’s location as “Ground Zero of the Eastside’s dispensary zone” because of its close proximity to three storefronts, Byrne said Aldana is one of the brave Santa Barbara souls who won’t be intimidated by the criminals who blew into our seaside hamlet when city councilmembers passed regulation allowing dispensaries to exist.
