Tell all Pittsburgh Council members: NO to unlimited LED signs at Pittsburgh’s North Shore

A vote of the Pittsburgh City Council on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 27, may determine whether an unlimited number of giant LED advertising signs — up to 50 feet tall and 2,500 square feet in size — will be allowed throughout the North Shore District. These changeable LED signs would be visible from downtown and Mount Washington, and they would be allowed to operate day and night, functioning like electronic billboards.

Your voice can help stop this. Below you will see a list of email addresses for reaching all nine Pittsburgh Council members. Please send an email to the group. Paste the email addresses into the “To” field of your email client for sending your email.

Feel free to borrow from the sample language provided under the list of email addresses below or to write a message of your own.

Thank you for your help!

LIST OF PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL EMAIL ADDRESSES:

district1@pittsburghpa.gov,
district4@pittsburghpa.gov,
district5@pittsburghpa.gov,
district7@pittsburghpa.gov,
district8@pittsburghpa.gov,
daniel.lavelle@pittsburghpa.gov,
bob.charland@pittsburghpa.gov,
kim.salinetro@pittsburghpa.gov,
Khari.Mosley@pittsburghpa.gov

SAMPLE LANGUAGE:

Dear Members of the Pittsburgh City Council:

I’m a proud Pittsburgh resident, and I’m writing to urge you to VOTE NO on the proposed ordinance establishing a “North Shore Entertainment District” with expanded allowances for oversized electronic signs and “large video displays.”

Pittsburgh’s skyline and riverfront views are among our city’s greatest assets. They support tourism, neighborhood pride, and the character that makes Pittsburgh unique. This legislation would move us in the wrong direction by enabling a major increase in bright, attention-grabbing digital signage — including full-motion LED displays up to 1,200 square feet and marquee-style ground signs up to 2,500 square feet, with additional large ground signs allowed in an unlimited number.

These kinds of signs are not just “wayfinding” or “identity” signage. In practice, they function as electronic billboards, bringing:
• driver distraction and safety risks;
• light pollution and glare (especially at night);
• a more commercialized, “anything goes” visual environment;
• negative impacts on nearby neighborhoods’ quality of life and property values; and
• long-term harm to Pittsburgh’s scenic reputation and signature views.

As written, this proposal is too permissive and would set a dangerous precedent. Please oppose this ordinance and vote NO.

Thank you for your service and for protecting Pittsburgh’s scenic beauty and community character.

Sincerely,

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your email address]