Lawn Signs are Political and Constitute Free Speech Says Attorney

Volunteers of the Patte Atkins-Grad Recall Campaign in the Woodlands were surprised to find that their rights to free speech weren’t all that free when one neighbor took it upon themselves to remove their political signs with the help of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Woodlands HOA Vice President Secretary Bonnie Schultz wrote to the City of Tamarac to see if our signs met code requirements and received this answer:

From Code Enforcement Manager Mark Woods via email:

Per your inquiry below, we have consulted with the City Attorney on this and the interpretation is that it is a free speech expression and allowed as such. They will be treated as any other similar sign, in that, if they are placed on public property they will be removed by staff. If you have any other questions or concerns relating to this issue, please contact me at the numbers below so that we can address them.”

Since all of our signs were on private property, we knew they would not be confiscated.

This did not satisfy Schulz. Instead of picking up the phone and talking to one of us, or even to our recall attorney, Alvin Entin, she took it upon it to call BSO to do the dirty deed……remove the signs and possibly destroy them.

Attorney Alvin Entin wrote this letter to the city today and put them, as well as  BSO on notice that no signs will be removed at this time.  They are clearly political and protected under free speech.

Please click on letter to make larger…..

Volunteers of the recall campaign have until February 15th to collect 1,200 signatures to remove Commissioner Atkins-Grad.  Once the signatures are collected and certified, a new election for a city commissioner will commence,  unless Atkins-Grad steps down from office.