Controversy surfaced late last week about one of the new anti-litter signs erected as part of the “Don’t Trash Laurens” campaign. Specifically noted is a sign that says “Don’t Be a Jack”…..then depicts a donkey.
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter became very active with photos of the sign last week. Some people laughed and others thought the signs were an embarrassment to the city. There’s even a petition circulating on line demanding the signs be removed.
WLBG spoke with Laurens Mayor Sharon Brownlee and asked if she would remove the signs because of the public outcry. Mayor Brownlee pointed out that many of the negative comments about the sign were coming from people who were not residents of the city of Laurens and were therefore not responsible for the tax expenditures to clean up litter inside the city. But, she said she would consider removing the signs………under the right conditions. “When we stop having to spend our dollars picking up trash along the streets and when I see that there’s been results we’ll think about that.” Mayor Brownlee said complaints about the signs were expected and she was braced for it.
“It’s worth taking a little bit of heat over it because it’s time to get people’s attention.”