One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Measure S: A brief illustrated history of campaign mailers
The LA City Attorney's Office has told Measure S campaigners to stop using a copy of the city seal on its mailers.
(
Coalition to Preserve LA
)
A photo released by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department showing a mailer put out by supporters of Measure S designed to look like an eviction notice, noting the indications that it's not a real eviction notice.
(
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
)
Mayor Eric Garcetti has demanded the pro-Measure S campaign stop using his image on their mailers.
An "eviction notice" mailer from the anti-Measure S campaign.
Listen
0:46
Measure S: A brief illustrated history of campaign mailers
The Los Angeles City Attorney's office on Thursday ordered Measure S campaigners to stop sending mailers with reproductions of the city's official seal, saying this creates the false impression that city officials endorse the initiative.
It's the latest volley in the fight over mailers created for the controversial measure. The March 7 ballot initiative would impose a series of regulations on developers, including a two-year moratorium on real estate projects that require special land use approvals.
Wednesday's cease-and-desist letter is directed at mailers spotlighting endorsements from former Mayor Richard Riordan and former City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. Their words of support for Measure S are printed on what looks like official city letterhead, featuring the city seal.
Leela Kapur, chief of staff for the City Attorney's Office, said the mailers make it appear as if former officials are speaking for the city, which she said is "misleading, inappropriate and unlawful."
Measure S campaign director Jill Stewart said Thursday a legal response was in the works.
"This campaign is about empowering our neighborhoods, and clearly we have awakened the City Hall establishment, and they're uncomfortable because they're being called out," Stewart said in a statement.
She added that the campaign is no longer using those mailers.
Sponsored message
It's the third time public officials have called on Measure S to stop sending particular mailers. Last week, lawyers for Los Angeles County issued a cease-and-desist letter to the campaign for another mailer that the agency said too closely resembles the eviction notices from the Sheriff's Department.
A photo released by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department showing a mailer put out by supporters of Measure S designed to look like an eviction notice, noting the indications that it's not a real eviction notice.
(
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
)
The Measure S campaign shot back a letter saying the county was infringing on its free speech rights. Leaders point out that the Measure S opposition also put out an "eviction notice" mailer. (That one, however, does not mention the Sheriff's Department.)
Before the "eviction notice" mailers, Measure S campaigners got in trouble for the use of Mayor Eric Garcetti's image on their mailers. The mayor's office said the mailers make it look like he endorses Measure S when he is in fact the best-known opponent of the initiative.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has demanded the pro-Measure S campaign stop using his image on their mailers.
Perhaps the next most famous public figure in the Measure S fight is Michael Weinstein who crafted the initiative. The head of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has become the target of Measure S opponents, who go after him and his organization, like in this mailer:
Sponsored message
A third person has emerged in the mailer wars, a developer-turned-commander-in chief. President Donald Trump is someone neither side wants to be associated with. Mailers for Measure S liken a vote for the initiative to telling off Trump and his developer friends.
Mailers against Measure S try to send the same message with a cartoon Trump:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
