With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
'Lawn Dude' billboards encourage conservation across Southern California
Examples of previous Lawn Dude billboards.
(
Southern California Water Committee
)
An anthropomorphized lawn character, Lawn Dude, has been appearing on billboards in Southern California to encourage water conservation, and it's been announced he'll be sticking around through August.
The effort is sponsored by water nonprofit the Southern California Water Committee (SCWC).
"The Lawn Dude campaign has been a valuable way for the Southern California Water Committee to grab the public's attention when it comes to outdoor water conservation, going beyond the limitations typically placed on what public agencies and water districts can say," Charles Wilson, chair of the SCWC Board of Trustees, said in a press release.
The billboards' colorful slogans include "Manscape your landscape" and "The Gov put me on a diet." They're describing cutting back on watering your grass with the colorful hashtag #LayOffTheSauce. The character also appeared on billboards last year.
Support for LAist comes from
"I'm fresh off a water cleanse and have never looked better, thanks to that H2O diet Governor Brown put me on," SCWC attributed to Lawn Dude in a press release. "I know people thought I might be all dried up, but I'm back and ready to kick some grass." (KPCC reminds you that Lawn Dude is not an actual person.)
Wilson thanked the Clear Channel Outdoor billboard company for donating billboard space allowing Lawn Dude to stay on billboards.
"We are in the drought of the century – not your mother's or even your grandmother's drought. Lawn Dude is doing a great service in getting attention on the best place to save water now in case the drought lasts beyond this year or the next," Felicia Marcus, chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board, said in the release.
"Lawn Dude does a wonderful job of using humor to captivate Californians about an otherwise 'dry' subject," Layne Lawson, director of public affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor, said in the release. "It's important we remind the public that the drought is far from over and now is the time to conserve."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist