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He Tried Using the Fourth, But It Was Full of Holes

By Ed Brayton

Clearwater, Florida businessman Herb Quintero spent $500,000 renovating his bait and tackle shop and the property it's on, including commissioning a fish mural on the side of the building. Though the mural contains no text, the city of Clearwater determined he needed a billboard permit, because the subject matter is related to his business. They began fining him $130 for each day he left the mural uncovered.

So Quintero responded (rather awesomely) by covering the mural with a banner depicting the First Amendment. All of which sets up this beautiful line from a local news report of the dustup:

Meanwhile, the city's legal department is looking to see what, if anything, it can do about the First Amendment banner.

Thanks to Dick Nimmons for the link. Read the comments on this post...

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on January 14, 2009 (boomark / email).