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Silver Lake Billboard Painted Over By Vigilante Seeking Justice For Hacked Trees

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The "altered" billboard at Sunset Triangle Plaza in Silver Lake. (Photo by @verdepervita via Twitter)
When the lovely, leafy trees at Silver Lake's Sunset Triangle Plaza were "butchered" to make a billboard more visible last month, neighborhood residents were predictably upset. So much so that a Change.org petition was initiated with the support of Councilman Mitch O'Farrell that demanded Outfront Media, the billboard barons responsible for hacking the trees, be prosecuted for vandalism.

We hadn't heard anything about the tree-billboard drama lately; it kind of just seemed to be one of those things that quickly provokes rage, is briefly mourned and forgotten about it. Next. But this morning, it appears someone seeking vigilante justice tried to send Outfront Media a message.

Now, according to Twitter user Giuseppe Ciccarone, the billboard is painted over with the message, "Outfront Media hacked our trees so you could see this billboard."

It must have happened sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning; as of 10 p.m. Saturday night, the billboard was unaltered.

Ok, bootleg Banksy, good message. We agree that hacking the trees was a dopey move, but we must we ask you this: Is vengeance going to bring your trees back to you?

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