Bedford Officials: 30-Day Notice Given To Remove Political Signs

BEDFORD, NY — Complaints about signs touting local political organizations are raising questions where the town code intersects with the first amendment.

In a letter dated September 15, Town of Bedford Supervisor MaryAnn Carr addressed community complaints about temporary political signs placed on the town's right-of-way. Specifically, Carr said her office has received a number of complaints about signs containing the names of a political organization using the words “Bedford United” or “United.” She told the community that free speech issues and local laws must both be weighed in this case.

Bedford United describes itself as a "slate of local independent candidates for the November 2021 election." Candidates running under the Bedford United umbrella include Don Scott for Bedford Town Supervisor, Alli Choi and Peter Michaelis for Bedford Town Board, Boo Fumagalli for Bedford Town Clerk and Clark Petschek for Bedford Town Justice.

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Carr is not seeking re-election as Bedford Town Supervisor, following a primary defeat by her one-time political ally, Councilwoman/Deputy Town Supervisor Ellen Z. Calves who will run as the Democratic nominee in November.

"While the Town Code states that temporary signs in the Town’s right-of-way need to relate to a specific event or activity, based on recent U.S. Supreme Court case law and other federal cases reviewing similar sign codes, a refusal by the Town to allow the signs at issue to remain in the Town’s right-of-way on a temporary basis could potentially be considered a violation of the First Amendment," Carr wrote. "Therefore, it has been the Town’s policy not to require the removal of signs from the Town right-of-way even if they do not relate to a specific event or activity."

The code does limit any signs placed in the town’s right-of-way to a maximum of 30 days before being removed, Carr said. The groups posting these signs have now been notified that they will need to be removed from the town’s right-of-way after 30 days or they will be removed by the town.

Carr said the town sign code is expected to be reviewed by local lawmakers to address concerns raised by neighbors. In the meantime, both candidates and political organizations will have 30 days at a time to get their messages out via yard signs on the public right-of-way.