Common question I'm getting right now: Doesn't Wausau have an ordinance against political signs being up after the election?

Answer: Yes. But it's complicated. The city technically has a sign ordinance that orders them removed seven days after the election.

However SCOTUS clarified content-based sign restrictions in the 2015 Reed v. Town of Gilbert case.

Basically they said, you can restrict signs -- but you have to treat all signs the same way regardless of whether or not it's a political yard sign, a bake sale, or sign for Katie's Organic Yardwork.

We really can't restrict JUST political signs because the court says it's unconstitutional. If it’s a building code violation, a street view hazard, or under the authority of the DOT, that is different.

The council could move to restrict all temporary signs. For instance, Madison allows extra non-commercial message signs during an election campaign period, without regard to content.

If they receive complaints, they count the number on the property, measure the size and placement, and compare it to their allowance in the ordinance, without regard to the message.

I know nerves are raw right now but it really is best to just ignore the signs that bug you and recognize that your neighbors have a constitutional right to free speech.

If you can't let it go, let your alder know that you'd like the council to consider more restrictions on temporary signs of all kinds.