Topic: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
We like them how about you? Tell us why too!
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
Wow, I don't like them 
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I THINK THE NEW AMBER ALERT SIGN IS LAME AND A WASTE OF MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED WITHIN OUR WEST GROVE COMMUNITY IN A BETTER WAY. THE STATE COULD INPUT THESE ALERT SIGNS ALONG THE 22 FREEWAY IF THEY WHERE THERE MORE IMPORTANT, AND A LOT MORE VIEWERS WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY OF SEEING THIS SIGN. RATHER THAN OUR 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC ON VALLEY VIEW. JUST MY THOUGHT.
_(WESTGROVEWEIRDO)_
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
2.5 million spent on these unattractive and pointless signs? Outrageous. These are a blight on the neighborhood. We have amber alert signs on the freeways, was this necessary?
Please vote against anyone on the city council who was in favor of this.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
First of all, the new sign is a complete waste of money. How many teachers could have their jobs saved? How many hungry mouths could have been fed? Here are some crazy numbers from an article in the OC Register: "The number of homeless children in Orange County is staggering. The latest figures from the Orange County Department of Education show that for the 2007-2008 school year there were 16,422 homeless students – a 20 percent increase from the previous school year's total of 13,130." http://www.ocregister.com/articles/scho … s-district
Where are our priorities here?
Sure the Amber Alert notices are nice, but we already get these notices on our freeways, which is where most of the vehicles on Valley View go to or come from.
Second, it completely stands out as an eye sore. It looks nothing like anything else in the area. I cringe every day as I pass it. Also, if was so important at providing information to us locals, why does it only face one way? If its that vital you'd think it would have information on both sides to keep us informed.
Just another bit of government waste as I see it. Sad.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I agree with the people that say the sign is a HUGE WASTE OF MONEY. I wonder who got a kickback for it. All the money spent could have helped pay for programs in our community. It makes me mad everytime I go past it!!!!!!!! What an eye sore
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
If the signs are truly designed as Amber Alert notification signs, then they belong on the freeway, not one direction of Valley View. The sign is not really pleasing to the eye. Agree that the $$$$ could have been used more wisely. How about some center medians instead? Or maybe common ground landscape? The signs are the only new thing that the city has installed or improved in West Garden Grove!
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
What a waste of money, and it is such an eye sore. They look like a left over from Disney's Autotopia.
I agree with Tinman, they belong on the freeway where people traveling the west coast north-south,
east-west will see them not just west grove. They should keep taxpayer money in mind and keep them,
clean, simple, and utilitarian, so they don't detract from the important message they are delivering.
the message should be two sided and heck if you've got something important to say, say it in larger lettering. You've got these massive ugly faces with two inch lettering. My first reaction was how random, and they managed to ugly up a pretty little center. more of our hard earned money wasted.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I appreciate the forum to finally state how furious I am about the ugly signs! What an enormous waste of money. There are a hundred better places to have spent the 2.5 million dollars. I am completely outraged that there are so many school and city programs being cut, while this huge sign is put up near my home. I cringe every time I pass it. It is an embarrasement to my home town.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
This is a huge waste of money and exhibits why our state is in such disarray. Why couldn't the money used for this sign gone back into our school system, if you want to protect our children, don't put up a sign give them great education.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
They bring down the value of the neighborhood. People who come to visit me actually laugh at how riduculous they look. It is embarassing. Please take them down!!!! West Grove residential streets are in desperate need of repair - this money could of gone a long way to fix them. Spending 2.5 million dollars for 2 signs just goes to show us how our government wastes money on a daily basis (as if we needed another example). Garden Grove council members know nothing about the people they represent!!!!! I plan on voting out my council person next time a vote comes up.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
Total and complete WASTE OF $$$$$$. I haven't seen one necessary "notification" on the sign yet!! Not to mention a complete eye soar!
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I can not believe that at least one member of our great City Counsel has enough taste to vote no on the uglyist Sign I have ever seen. color,design construction. And the money could have been spent on Valley View, your lucky you dont blow a tire from all the ruts.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
Total waste of money, completely ugly, and it makes the whole area look cheap. Why not invest in repairing the roads, or installing some new sound walls and medians in the area, like along lampson, chapman and springdale. It would beautify the neighborhood and increase the value of all that live here. The idea is well intended but poorly executed, the city council ought to be embarassed by this outragous waste of our hard earned tax dollars. The only thing I have seen posted on this stupid sign so far is the fine for shooting off (fun) fireworks.
Here are the ugly details: http://www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us/?q=pw/AmberAlertSigns
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I agree wholeheartedly with athemole - a ridiculous waste of our tax dollars. Where did Loretta Sanchez get 800k from? Where did the State and Federal get their resources from? In this time of recession? TAXES! TAXES! TAXES! Is it any wonder the country is hurting? City Hall is asleep at the wheel as usual. I have seen three notices on the sign - all unnecessary!
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I have lived in West Grove for 46 years. My street is so bad its mostly dirt we will be mowing it soon. When I saw this sign go up I couldn't believe my eyes. What a waste of money. One of the most ugly signs I have ever seen. We in West Grove already have a bad image with the kind of shops and resturants we get here. We have to travel to another city to eat out and shop. I think they should fire the city council if this is what there doing.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
A TOTAL waste of money, and what brilliant engineering !!! The wires rubbing against the sign. That can only spell trouble. Of course the City will have to send a crew out to fix it, so there is more waste of our money.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I'm not generally a complainer, but the money spent on that hideous sign breaks my heart. My neighborhood is a blight. I have lived here over 30 years and all the beautiful trees have been cut down and the city HAS NO MONEY TO PLANT ANOTHER tree, but they can buy an ugly sign. They have no restriction on the size of RV's and boats sitting on concrete lawns. On my street alone there are 20 huge boats, RV's or toyhauler. Our city has let us down. I hope they see these blogs.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
What do we think of the Amber Alert Sign? What does it matter what we think? It's already installed. If they really cared what we thought the city would have asked us before it went up!
I can tell you this though... If one of our kids were missing we wouldn't care what that sign looked like or cost!!
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
My wife and I echo many of the sentiments in the posts above. We think it was a needless waste of money that could have gone to something more pressing and we also dont feel that the look represents what our community is about...it's hard to explain, but that sign just doesn't say "West Garden Grove" when I look at it....
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
Wow! Where do I start? First off, I commend all who addressed the waste of money and eye sore issues! Thank You!! I was, am, and always will be outraged every time I pass our Valley View sign. Amber alerts are very important, but I find the location utterly ridiculous. Only people passing VV would be able to assist police and they would have to be coming into our city to see it. I am somewhat curious as to how many amber alerts occur in Garden Grove each year to merit such a horrendous sign at on VV. All I have seen since it has been up has been "Illegal fireworks = $1,000 fine" flashing on and off wasting electricity. Almost every resident knows this law already and for those who don't, a large banner hanging over VV would have been sufficient. Another thing is this poll that says that 29 people either like them or feel they are OK. So far according to the posts, there is only one who sites the Amber Alerts (kids) reason for them being favorable. I would love to see the other 28 people who voted "positive" or "neutral" at least leave a few more posts. In my opinion, it calls into question the integrity of the poll when it doesn't reflect the majority of opinions expressed on the forum. Finally, I am thankful for the forum being available to allow people to blow off a little steam regarding this issue. I know it is too late to influence those who financed or voted for this fiasco, but at least now, I won't have to attend a city council meeting to express my disappointment over their decision.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
2.5 million dollars spent on visually displeasing, nonessential signs
which blight the neighborhood and are an affront to the citizenry is yet another
flagrant show of fiscal irresponsibility by out-of-touch politicians.
At the next election, I sincerely hope the voters of GG will
oust all current members of the council, along with all other elected
officials, who were party to the construction of these wretched monstrosities.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I cringe whenever I go by it.
1. A complete waste of money which could have been spent on much better and more needed
project.
2. How safe is it to be reading a sign like that while approaching a red light with traffic stopped
ahead of it? I'd be very curious to know if traffic accidents have increased between the top
of the overpass and the light after the sign since the installation of this horrible thing.
3. It looks AWEFUL. Makes me think I'm approaching Disneyland or the Las Vegas Strip. As another
person here on the board stated, it's a complete blight on our neighborhood.
Please, please, please take this aweful thing down and sell the scrap metal and get some of the money
back that way. I volunteer to show up with a hacksaw and a big smile.
Last edited by Mabkvist (2009-06-30 16:21:09)
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
I was so relieved to see everyone’s agreement over our collective distaste for that loathsome sign. While traveling over the 405 freeway, as Bolsa Chica road becomes Valley View, one of the street’s nicest attributes was once it’s greenery. There has always been a nice amount of ivy growing along the walls, as one enters Garden Grove from that route. To some, the neighborhood itself may look somewhat bleak, when juxtaposed next to the more affluent areas of College Park East and Seal Beach. The installation of the sign simply magnifies this economic difference in property values. I first noticed it while coming home from work one day, and my jaw dropped. It seriously made me depressed for a long while. I cursed out loud, and vowed to one day air my grievances with the city. However, being a busy working man, I knew I would never have the chance. Sadly, I predicted the same of most of my neighbors. The city had wasted our budget, and they would get away with it once again.
To deem the sign a “design faux paus” would be an understatement. It’s cheap looking gold and blue paint echo the stylistic elements of the jumbo tron at a sports arena, not the elegance of what one would hope to see on Valley View. Environmentally, the sign is out of place amidst it’s surroundings – which only amplifies its hideousness. It is clunky, and fails to subtly fit into the landscape around it. It begs the question “On what planet would the be considered a good idea?”. There were so many other more beneficial uses of 2.5 million that could have actually stimulated economic growth in the area. While it may serve a practical function, it completes the perception that this is a lower income area, and gives merit to all of the bad misconceptions about Garden Grove.
This is definitely not the first mediocre public works project that the city has frivolously approved. However, it definitely functions as the focal point of all that precede it. I suppose it should come as no surprise, when just two years prior, the city approved a hideous “Welcome to Garden Grove” sign on Lampson and Manly. As one passes the nice golf courses, well paved roads, and tall eucalyptus trees that the city of Seal Beach has spent years cultivating along Lampson in College Park East, there is an area of environmental change that one encounters at Lampson and Manly. There are suddenly no longer any trees, but a large area of concrete walls and poorly kempt roads. The “Welcome to Garden Grove” sign did nothing to make this area more welcoming, and instead reminded everyone why their surroundings were so sparse. The sign stuck up as an obstruction in the middle of the road, and as soon as I saw it, I saw an accident waiting to happen. Sadly, an accident did occur not too long afterward, when a driver unexpectedly hit the protruding sign and was killed.
Though the amber alert sign is not in a place where it may pose a hazard to motorists, it poses a much greater danger to the overall value of our community. As businesses are moving out of the area, and commerce is declining, we cannot afford to haphazardly be spending money on new eyesores to expedite this process. I truly hope that the city will re-evaluate it’s priorities, and maybe even read a few coffee table books about effective design. However, judging from the patterns of the past, this may be idealistic thinking. I am a busy man, and if I could get involved, I would. Sadly, it is only a matter of time before the next misuse of municipal funds, and Garden Grove will continue to be Garden Grove.
Re: What do you think of the Amber Alert signs?
Regarding the money for the signs I recall from the GG Journal article that the use of the grant money was pretty specific and could not have been applied toward some of the other suggested uses such as street beautification, sidewalks, etc. Also I recall the money was given to the City via the grants vs. coming out of its coffers. However, Valley View as the location for the sign is the worst possible choice. That section of Valley View has always been very attractive with the parkway trees, landscaped median and fig vine covered walls. To drop in a huge electric billboard on a street that cuts through the neighborhood on arguably the best looking non-residential street shows the decision makers at the City level have no aesthetic I.Q. and had no regard as to how the placement would affect the residents of WGG. In this day of more and more bombardment of uninvited messaging you would think city leaders who are charged with increasing the quality of life in a community and helping to present the city in a positive fashion and combat an ever present battle of negative imaging would have the presence of mind to locate the sign in a decidedly commercial area such as the second sign location on Harbor Blvd. Amber Alert type signs are of little or no value on throughfares used by the same commuter/residents on a daily basis. They are placed on freeways to be viewed by the largest potential audience to be beneficial. The responsibility for the sign being there rest on my shoulders as much as the City's as I kept silent on an issue I could have voiced opposition to when I first read of the City's intention. I remember thinking just because it is "free" doesn't mean the City has to take advantage of it. Great that we know have a "Voice" so we can prevent something like this in the future if that is the desire of a majority of the community. Had I known that so many others find these signs objectionable I would have been happy to have addressed the council on this issue. As a near lifetime resident of WGG I am thrilled so many others are taking an interest via the forum and that it is here for us to express our views and have a more cohesive community.