SIGNS OF THE TIME - Blagojevich Signs Coming Down on IL Roads This Weekend!
32 TOLL PLAZA SIGNS ON IL TOLLWAY WILL HAVE EX-GOVERNOR'S NAME EXPUNGED! SOME DRIVERS CHEER!
Here in Chicago, in Illinois, and in other parts of the country, having your name plastered on highly-viewed signage, or in prominent ads or city-sponsored events, is nothing at all new. Fly in to virtually any city airport across the country, and you'll see a "Welcome to (insert your city or town here) - (Joe Shmoe), Mayor." Same when you're crossing a state boundary.
Old Chicago Mayor Daley (our current mayor's father) had such signs all over Chicago back in the 1950's through the 1970's. Former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne, the city's first woman mayor back in the 1980's, promoted "Mayor Jane Byrne's Chicagofest," with the mayor's name and title set in a considerably larger type size than the event itself.
Free exposure - important come the next election cycle - yes? Thousands see that name every day - although it likely doesn't register with most who spot it.
Just think how much it would cost you to promote your business so visibly? A ton of dough, I would assume!
Well, now, here in IL, free promo time is up for disgraced IL ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich. Of course, small signs, photos, brochures, and State of IL stationery are being re-ordered as we speak. People are beginning to catch themselves whenever the begin to refer to "Governor Blago . . ."
But one of the most visible displays of the now-ex-gov's name is going to be history by tomorrow morning. According to a story in Friday's Chicago Tribune by reporter Richard Wronski, a total of 32 IL Tollway signs at Electronic Toll Collection Points and Manual Toll Plazas displayed Blagojevich's name, in nearly two-foot high letters, across three lanes of high-speed tollway traffic, are being modified to cover up his name. The covered portions will now identify the actual name and plaza number at each location.
(Photos for this post from an online photo album by Chicago Tribune Photographer David Pierini.)
New IL Governor Pat Quinn feels these highly-visible signs should not feature or promote the name of any public official - including his own. 
The signs were originally installed to identify Open Road or Electronic Toll Collection Points along the IL Tollway - a project yet to be finally completed. Most of the upgrade work, however, was undertaken during Rod Blagojevich's term. Back in 2004, these signs were installed at a public cost of $480,000, or $15,000 per sign. The cover-up will cost $15,000 for all of the signs - no new signs are being installed, only aluminum sign overlays are being affixed.
What does the public think about the Governor's latest cover-up? Many cheered. Stuck a thumb in the air. A few stopped, got out of their vehicles, and snapped digital pictures. Four news helicopters flew overhead to record the change for posterity.
Bye, bye, Mr. Blagojevich! It might not be as easy to remember you!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
