Ban on Tobacco, Alcohol Billboards Considered

Following Baltimore’s lead, Compton is working on an ordinance that would ban billboards that advertise tobacco and alcohol in the city.

A county-based women’s group suggested the restriction more than a year ago as a way to reduce consumption of alcohol and cigarettes by minors. But city staff delayed drafting the ordinance while a similar ban in Baltimore--which had been under attack from the tobacco industry--made its way through federal courts.

Baltimore’s ordinance was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in April, prompting cities including Los Angeles to propose similar laws.

A representative of the Compton city attorney’s office said Wednesday that because the proposal involves “hot legal issues” such as freedom of speech, there is still no decision on what the ordinance would entail or even when it could go before the City Council.

The Black Women’s Media Project, a county-funded group that won initial concept approval for the ordinance from the council last year, has presented to the council about 500 signatures of residents supporting the ban.