Tom's Mailbag Aug. 9, 2014

Photo by: Tom Kacich

That's Stefanie Pratt's billboard ... but it's not a gang sign she's flashing.

A little break in the mailbag monotony this week. Virtually nothing about shootings, school siting, mayoral politics or construction projects.

This week we have questions about gang signs, mold in the problematic satellite county jail, an apparent voter registration snafu at Central High School, whether recyclables are recycled, parking meter revenue, that suspicious Nudo/Bambenek/Frerichs deal two years ago and votes for best all-time local restaurants and best pizza.

A misinterpreted sign

How come there is a billboard with three real estate agents and one is throwing a gang hand gesture? Is that really appropriate?

Champaign Realtor Stefanie Pratt found this question both amusing and frightening.

It says that Stefanie Pratt is the Realtor that rocks, she said of the billboard. Its a rock sign, a rock n roll sign. Its not a gang sign. If you look at rock n roll bands like Poison and Def Leppard, they say its gonna rock. Thats what that is. I cant believe someone thought that was a gang sign. Oh my gosh.

My friend Bret Michaels, thats what he does all the time, she said of the former member of Poison, who now performs on his own. Ill send you a picture of him and I from about a month ago, doing the rock sign together.

OK, but the question isnt that far-fetched. To my baby boomer eyes unfamiliar as they are both with gang signs and rock n roll signs (although I still can flash a good peace sign) that rock n roll sign looks something like the one for the Latin Kings, the notorious Chicago street gang. I can see why someone would be concerned, although a real estate agent flashing gang signs isnt a winning marketing move.

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Tom's Mailbag Aug. 9, 2014