Under the cover of night, Zoom Media performed more work on a disputed billboard near the Round Barn of Arcadia, Okla., reported the Edmond Sun.
It was reported by several media outlets that Zoom Media agreed to a 30-day moratorium on work on the billboard. But Zoom Media said there was no such agreement to stop the work.
Needless to say, members of the Arcadia Historical Society aren’t happy with the development:
“Any hope we had to find a reasonable solution has been severely dashed by Mr. (Fariborz) Mazaheri’s action in placing signs on the large billboard under the cover of darkness Wednesday night,” the society said in a statement issued Thursday morning.
“This certainly makes us question their sincerity when they indicated they would suspend all work on the large billboard for 30 days and try and find a solution. Mr. Mazaheri’s actions have only strengthened our resolve. We are committed to exhaust every avenue possible to stop the desecration of such an historic icon on Route 66.” […]
Zoom Media stated it will honor an agreement to wait 30 days for the Arcadia Historical Society or any interested group or individuals to exercise any of the proposed options.
This part of the story also stuck out:
Zoom Media also maintains that during an Oct. 18 meeting involving Mazaheri and persons associated with the Round Barn, Mazaheri said the signage for Arcadia was approved by the town, that it was paid for and that it was ready to go up.
If true, who with the town approved the sign message? And why weren’t folks with the Round Barn forthcoming about the meeting?
But at this point, I’m putting away my reporter’s pen. Obviously, members of the Arcadia Historical Society are mad. But this contention that Zoom Media’s move to finish the billboard will “seriously dash” hopes for a solution is hogwash. The options for a solution are there, and in writing (unlike the moratorium, apparently). Barring a left-field scenario that shows the billboard is illegal, everything Zoom Media has done is above board, and it holds the cards. The clock’s ticking, and members of the historical society had better start negotiating in earnest, instead wasting time wailing and gnashing teeth.
And, please, stop calling the billboard a “desecration” of the Round Barn. I love the Round Barn. But the Round Barn is not a church, it is not a temple, it is not a holy site. The Round Barn itself isn’t even directly affected by the billboard. So stop with the hyperbole already.
While I would agree that is not a “desecration” in the strict sense of the word, it still is a serious eyesore. You are now limited on getting a picture of the barn w/o the billboard. I think something fishy is going on with the Arcadia town council. You are right, SOME approved that board. They need to step up to the plate.
A “limited” angle … the worst angle to shoot the Round Barn was from that east side, where the billboard is. That spot always had trees or buildings or power poles or even the sun affecting fthe view.
The best angle, by far, to shoot the Round Barn is from the south. And the billboard doesn’t affect that one iota.