Billboard Controversy

A billboard similar to this one was posted in the City of Rancho Cucamonga recently at the intersection of Archibald Ave. and Foothill Blvd. It sparked enough controversy that the City of Rancho Cucamonga reported receiving over 90 calls complaining about it. On November 21st the billboard was removed.

The billboard is part of a nation-wide campaign by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) to let Americans know that there is room for reason and clarity of thought, free from the dogma that organized religion uses to keep its flock in line; as well as donating.

According to their website, http://www.ffrg.org/, "The Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., is an educational group working for the separation of state and church. Its purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism."

A Wisconsin group advocating the separation of church and state plans to file suit against the city of Rancho Cucamonga for it's part in the demise of the billboard.

On November 21st, Linda Danials, Redevelopment Director for the City of Rancho Cucamonga told the Daily Bulletin newspaper that a member of her staff called the sign company and told them of the number of complaints they had received and asked if the billboard could be taken down.

Later that same day the City of Rancho Cucamonga released the following statement; "For the record, the City of Rancho Cucamonga did not suggest, nor did it request, that any billboard content be removed from the billboard. Advertising content decisions rest with the company that sells the advertising space, not with the city. The placement and removal of advertising content is a private business decision."

Former Redevelopment Director Linda Daniels later denied making any statement to the newspaper!!!