Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Lingerie Shop’s Revealing Billboard Is Criticized by Residents : Santa Clarita: Some citizens contend the image demeans women and is inappropriate for children. They present petitions urging the city to take action.

A billboard of a woman in a low-cut bra, lace underwear, stockings and high heels has angered a group of residents who say the image demeans women and is inappropriate for children.

During the month that the sign--an advertisement for the Naughty But Nice lingerie shop in Saugus--has been on Soledad Canyon Road, offended citizens have gathered more than 1,500 signatures asking that the city do something about it.

The leaders of the petition drive presented it at a City Council meeting Tuesday night.

“I don’t want my daughters thinking that this is the way to attract men,” Lori Burris told the council. “I don’t want my young son to view a woman in the lowest common denominator.”

The billboard’s critics say the advertisement--which shows the woman straddling a chair and also includes the Mae West quote,”When women go wrong men go right after them”--is more suitable for an adult magazine.

“It does not belong on this street. It does not belong in this community,” said Steve Rice. “My 6-year-old daughter cannot be shielded from this. My 9-year-old daughter cannot be shielded from this.”

The strong public reaction has startled Sharon Dallas, owner of the lingerie shop.

“This is three seconds going past a billboard on a major street,” she said. “It’s not posted above somebody’s house.”

Although critics of the picture say it shows the woman in a provocative pose, Dallas said the photograph in the advertisement is no more revealing than those appearing in department stores ads in newspapers.

“I have a 12-year-old,” she said. “If my son sees a billboard like mine, he says ‘So what? It’s a woman in her underwear.’ ”

Dallas said she chose the photograph from a calendar after talking with customers. She said it’s tamer than others she considered.

This is of no solace to the billboard’s critics.

“I was offended as a woman and embarrassed as a mother,” said Sheila Wheeler.

Wheeler, speaking to the council, drew comparisons between the billboard and the murder of popular martial arts instructor Veronica Estrada here six months ago. Estrada was strangled during or after a sexual assault.

“The sign says, ‘When women go wrong men go right after them,’ ” she said. “What did Veronica Estrada do wrong that made this man go after her?”

Council members said they were inclined to take down the sign, but were doubtful they have the authority to do so.

“I understand and I sympathize with them completely, however, the First Amendment is still in place,” said Mayor George Pederson.

“I’ve been racking my brain every time I go by there about what I can do,” said Councilwoman Jan Heidt.

Heidt said the city might be able to force it down because the billboard was elevated for better visibility months ago without a permit. City planning staffers are researching the issue, she said.

Dallas, meanwhile, has been targeted with phone calls and name-calling. But she said that the more she feels abused by her critics, the less she is inclined to take the sign down.

“I have no intention of removing the billboard until I get tired of looking at it,” Dallas said.

This isn’t the first time Santa Clarita residents have objected to eye-catching advertisements.

Two years ago, complaints were lodged against a rock ‘n’ roll radio station that ran a series of billboard messages claiming their station was “Better Than Sex--And Safer.”