BRIGHTON — Residents opposed to allowing marijuana stores in the city say people have been stealing their yard signs that urge people to vote “no” on a city ballot proposal up for consideration in November.
“They are stealing the signs as fast as we are putting them up,” Dr. Thomas Litzinger said.
While members of the committee say they are being targeted, area police have been unable to confirm that, and noted political yard sign damage and theft appears to be happening at a similar rate to other elections.
“Every time there’s political signs that are out there, there’s always some that are stolen, some that are damaged, some that are defaced,” Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy said. “I don’t know that we’re seeing any more or any less destruction or defacing or theft than we do in any other typical election cycle.”
Litzinger and other residents formed a local ballot question committee, Protect Brighton Youth & Community, to oppose a proposal to allow at least two adult-use recreational marijuana stores in the city.
The group distributed lawn signs calling for “NO POT SHOPS IN BRIGHTON,” which some residents put up on their lawns and other locations.
RELATED: Anti-pot shops committee forms to oppose Brighton ballot proposal
Litzinger said he estimates about half of the “vote no” signs have been stolen.
He said he has heard of signs disappearing around Main Street, the Lee Road area and in neighborhoods.
He said he knows of one instance in which a person stealing signs was…
