Downey goes after costumed advertisers

DOWNEY – Sorry to anybody who hoped to use a gorilla costume to earn a little extra scratch.

Because Downey for the first time is going after costumed advertisers.

The city this week included a provision in a conditional use permit for an auto auction that forced the auction to swear off using costumed characters to bring in customers.

“We know these types of auto auctions can get pretty aggressive with their advertising,” said Downey Senior Planner David Blumenthal.

My Charity Auto Auction has opened at Old River School Road and Firestone Boulevard at the closed Pontiac GM Buick dealership.

The auction’s conditional use permit is scheduled to come before the Planning Commission on Wednesday.

Downey has already outlawed sign-spinners, but it can’t legally outlaw costumed characters because a person generally has a constitutional right to dress how she or he chooses.

Cities often use the conditional use permit to address issues that city officials feel would be harmful to the community.

The auction’s permit includes several other rules, including provisions that says: “no bellman or crier, nor any drum or fife or other instrument of music, nor any signal or means of attracting the attention.”

It also calls for increased landscaping and sets hours of operation, along with other provisions.

Chris Guerrero said the city should take it easy on those who spin signs or dress in costumes.

On Monday, he was dressed as the Statue of Liberty as he tried to wave customers into Liberty Income Tax.

“If they ban it, they’re going to put a lot of people out of work,” he said.

While sign spinning is illegal in Downey, that hasn’t stopped sign-spinning recruiters from looking for job candidates.

There is a “HUGE NEED for Human Directional’s in the LONG BEACH and DOWNEY Areas!!!,” according to this job posting from Media Nation.