Signs not regulated, but permitted as free speech – The Inquirer and Mirror

Dean Geddes I&M Staff Writer @DGeddesIM

ThursdayJul16,2020at9:57AM

(July 23, 2020) Yard signs have been sprouting up on public property all over Nantucket this year, advocating for causes ranging from social justice to limiting development on the island.

There have been a lot of questions posed to the town about the legality and regulation of these signs, said Erika Mooney, the towns operations administrator. But ultimately, they are allowed and protected by free-speech laws.

We are advised that the power of the town to regulate speech in a public way is limited. Public streets and sidewalks are generally recognized as public forums. They are generally considered to be publicly-owned areas where individuals have the right to traverse, speak freely, protest and assemble. So, we are not taking them down. Mooney wrote in an e-mail.

(Restricting signs because they are not) visually appealing is too subjective and cannot be considered even if people want that.They can be moved or relocated if causing sight-line or clear public safety issues but the town must be very confident of this and apply the same standards islandwide and consistently.

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Signs not regulated, but permitted as free speech - The Inquirer and Mirror