Yes Activists Attack No on 65 Signs

In a series of early morning forays, a group of people describing themselves as “activists” in favor of Proposition 65, the anti-toxics initiative, launched a guerrilla-like assault against No on 65 billboards Thursday.

The outdoor advertising proclaims: “No on 65. The Toxics Initiative. It’s Full of Exemptions.” The attackers plastered signs of their own on the billboards that proclaimed: “Warning: Paid for by Chevron. Major Cal. Polluter.” The signs bore the familiar red and blue Chevron logo.

Chevron officials blasted the Yes on 65 campaign for what its government affairs manager, Philip Cavanaugh, termed “a despicable, dirty trick.”

However, the pro-initiative campaign committee denied any involvement. “We had absolutely nothing to do with it,” said Yes on 65 spokesman Sky Johnson.

About 30 of 250 billboards were damaged, said No on 65 campaign manager Michael Gagan, who noted that those who did it could be prosecuted for defacing property. While most of the defaced signs were in the San Francisco Bay Area, he said, there were several each in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

The initiative would impose new restrictions on businesses that release chemicals thought to cause cancer and birth defects into sources of drinking water and would require warnings to employees and consumers exposed to those substances.

As of Oct. 1, Chevron was the largest single contributor to the No on 65 campaign, accounting for $237,697 out of more than $2 million received by the campaign committee.