(Editor’s note: Opinion pieces are posted only for purposes of discussion.)
Peoria’s gods were smiling down this week, and residents north of Bell Road and west of Loop 101 got their wish: no billboards at Loop 101 and Bell.
This billboard issue has been going on for months. And Becker Boards owner Mark Becker had assured the Peoria Times that if he was turned down in his bid, it would not be long before larger billboard operations such as CBS and Clear Channel made a move to erect their own billboards at the same location. In other words, the more money you have, the greater chance you have to get your way.
Makes sense in a lot of ways. Makes more money for Glendale, although that would be some time down the road, perhaps more than a year or two before revenues would start pouring in to city coffers.
No doubt, Becker has spent a great deal of money attempting to salvage a spot for his billboards on land Peoria de-annexed to Glendale several years ago to allow for a small business park to be built.