The common denominator in all the billboard bullying is the law firm Kaplan Stewart led by Amee Farrell. Thaddeus Bartowski and his various billboard companies make themselves conveniently unavailable.

So why not give Amee and her assistant Kristen D. Shepherd a call and give them a piece of your mind? 610-941-2515. What would happen if 10,000 people in Phoenixville and 50,000 people in say Haverford bombarded them every day with inquiries? Wouldn't you love to come to work to "You have 6,345 new messages."

Here's their fax. Bombard them. 610-684-2142

http://www.kaplaw.com/Bio/AmeeFarrell.asp

We're giving them a free pass to bully us. Make them pay with their time. Make them not want to answer their phone. Start a movement. Otherwise, this is going to happen.

Bother the attorneys, and withholding support for the shop/board locations, are good ideas, but should billboards ever be approved for the Nutt Road/Rt. 23 corridor I would boycott the businesses displayed on the billboards, too.

idk Karen. That billboard says take 30 cents off each gallon of gas at Giant, you're probably going to Giant. We need to do something before the sign is built, not after.

Why not bombard the businesses who are signing up for the billboards now, too? Get them to back off of this form of advertising. I'm sure that calling them repeatedly would send a message loud and clear. They won't like having their phone lines clogged up since they will lose business.

Frances. You're referring to the property owners at Sals, Monroe Muffler and Napa? I don't know if the folks that own Sal's property also own Sals or do they lease to Sals? Same for the other properties. So without research, you may be penalizing those companies unnecessarily.

But the lawyers are the evil common denominator. There is one phone number and they're the ones making money off this and getting a free pass. All I'm hearing are excuses.

I thought I'd fling this out there to see if it sticks. All we're going to get are more lawyer bills and eventually some ugly blinking signs.

Boycotting the business would help get message across as well. Even if they are just leasing they will go to landlord and tell them to stop - its hurting their business. That will get attention,

I agree with Jeninfer Mayo. I won't do business with the businesses that are bringing the bill boards into town.

I fear that the borough will cave in on this based on the potential cost in legal fees. I don't patronize those businesses now, so a boycott doesn't work for me. Originally I was non-committal about the subject, but now I that I know who is behind the billboards and their attitude toward local residents, I stand with those who oppose the billboards and make this offer: if the attorneys for the borough will handle this case pro bono, I will donate $500 to a charity of their choice.

Bombarding the business are a great idea. I'd say I'd boycott Sal's but since I haven't eaten there in 8 years (food is terrible) I doubt my lack of business would be missed. Even if they lease I'm guessing the landlords get a percentage of the profits.

Other than Sal's, I'm not sure if Sal still holds an ownership in that business or just owns the property, the other two businesses are leasees of their respective properties and the owners are NOT local residents. Sherman Williams Paints has already indicated they are opposed and indicated at the hearings that any billboard in front of their store violates their lease. I suspect if the owners of the properties had empty store fronts because of their action to lease additional portions of their properties to this billboard company they may reconsider. Probably not though since it appears the 29 year, 11 month leases are very lucrative for the property owners and they don't have to do a thing except sign the lease and cash the monthly checks. The other applications submitted from a separate sign company that the Borough declined to allow were with the Chevrolet car dealership, who does does own the property. Those applications were denied for a multitude of setback, size, etc. type reasons, not because billboards are illegal. Currently the Borough has no inclination to "cave" and intends to defends it's position aggressively. Let your council person know if you support that fight as it's ultimately Council's decision on how aggressively the Borough does or doesn't fights. I would also hope the Borough's legal team will consult with the multitude of other municipal teams that have or are successfully attempting to thwart this activity. There's always strength in numbers.

If the borough doesn't block this then I might as well contact the billboard people and tell them they can put one up in my front yard. Maybe the income can help offset all the tax increases I'm incurring by living in the borough.

Out of curiosity. Who is the lawyer representing the borough? I would assume (perhaps incorrectly) that they are against this. It seems the company came prepared with lawyers and I'm wondering who is on the other side fighting this.