Nassau County Considers Billboards Along LIE, Near Roosevelt Field Mall

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Nassau County lawmaker is blasting a proposal to erect massive billboards along some roadways.

The plan is to install 48-foot-wide electronic billboards all along the Long Island Expressway and near Roosevelt Field mall, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported. The county is looking to replace some $30 million in projected revenue that was lost from the failed school zone speed camera program.

But Legislator Judy Jacobs, D-Woodbury, calls it a bad plan.

"Bad enough people are texting," she said. "Bad enough they're distracted. And this is a distraction they're going to have to read."

Jacobs added that the billboards would create "another way to block trees, another way to block the sky."

She said there are better ways to raise revenue.

"And I am really concerned that once the door is open for this, even a crack, then it'll be flung wide open," Jacobs said.

Most shoppers at Roosevelt Field Mall told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria they're not crazy about the idea.

"They will look terrible," said one woman.

"They would be a distraction. A distraction while driving when people try to look up at them," said another shopper.

At least two people said they fear the billboards could be knocked down in a strong storm and injure people on the road, D'Auria reported.

Allvision, which created renderings of the proposed billboards, said they'll avoid residental areas, parks, schools and open space, CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported.

One proposed location is the Long Island Expressway at Rosyln Road.

Other Nassau County residents had mixed reactions to the proposal.

"Not far from there in Queens, there are billboads. So it's not that much different," said one Nassau resident.

"I think just keep them out and leave them in the city," one woman said.

"Too much of a distraction," said one resident.

"If they're going to raise money and lower my property taxes, why not," a homeowner said.

"No, I don't think we need to clog up the whole nature of more billboard and advertisement," said one woman . "They have to think of better ways to raise money."

"The LIE is such a disasters at time anyway, so to see a few ads, I don't think it's bad at all," one man said.

Nassau's Republican majority also pointed out the proposal is not a done deal.

"It could disrupt people's quality of life, so we have deep reservations about this," said Nassau County Leg. Richard Nicolello.

The signs would also steer clear of liquor, tobacco or strip club ads.

Opponents said it's not the message they object to, it's the method, Gusoff reported.

The billboards could come up for a vote by the Nassau County Legislature in early Spring. County Executive Ed Mangano has not offered an opinion on the proposal.