VENTURA : Bookseller Ends Dispute Over Sign

A brief dispute between Ventura bookseller Ed Elrod and city officials over the location of a sign at his downtown business ended Thursday when Elrod agreed to plunk down $7 for a city permit.

Elrod, owner of the Ventura Bookstore, said early Thursday that he was incensed over a city code enforcement officer’s request that he obtain a permit to display a poster board advertising a new book in the entryway of his shop.

Elrod contended that it was the inflammatory subject of the book, titled “Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex and the Fight for Women’s Rights,” that prompted the city’s action. The book’s author is Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union.

But Ventura Mayor Tom Buford said the city’s action had nothing to do with the content of the book. Elrod was violating a city ordinance that requires merchants to obtain a permit before displaying any sign that is not permanently attached to their building, Buford said.

And code enforcement officer Dan Emry was just doing his job when he investigated a complaint about the sign Wednesday, Buford said. Emry’s visit came after two people complained to City Hall about the sign, said Councilwoman Rosa Lee Measures.

Elrod said he was prepared to fight the city officials’ request, convinced they were trying to censor him. But after consulting with a lawyer, he agreed to seek the permit, Elrod said late Thursday.

“The attorney said the city has a legal right to require permission to display the sign,” he said.

Still, the whole episode chilled him, Elrod said.

“I really hate the idea that somebody can make a few calls to the city and they send someone to make me take my sign down.”