A survey of more than 1,000 homeowners found that one in three respondents plan to display political signs in their yards this election period.
For Linda Thomas, a longtime Atascadero resident, the signs point to disagreements among neighbors and their tendency to make those opinions public.
“When I see these signs, I feel like people are forcing their opinions down our throats,” Thomas said. “I don’t care who votes for whom. I know what I believe and what I value, but I don’t hold anything against anyone else.”
She said she has also seen people placing signs where others have already been placed.
“We noticed there was a sign on top of a sign,” Thomas said. “There will be Republican signs, and then there will be Democratic signs.”
Dave Johnson, another Atascadero resident, puts up political signs on his property during election years.
“I think we support the cause and we support the people who are getting elected and putting themselves out there in front of the public,” he said.
There are city guidelines for Atascadero residents to follow regarding these yard signs.
Residents can display political signs in their yards for up to nine months. The City of Atascadero is encouraging residents to remove their signs after the election. According to the Atascadero Police Department, political sign theft is treated with the same seriousness as other thefts and is considered a misdemeanor.
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