Chicago rips down racy divorce billboard

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

As quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

The salacious "Life is short. Get a divorce" billboard with barely clothed models was ripped from its Rush Street perch one week after it went up and one day after the Sun-Times reported it.

The story was picked up internationally, running on CNN, MSNBC, ABC's "Good Morning America" -- even on "The View."

That's not the kind of publicity Chicago officials wanted as they seek to host the 2016 Olympics, say supporters of attorney Corri Fetman.

"They ripped our billboard down without due process," Fetman said. "We own that art. I feel violated."

But it wasn't a moral crusade that brought down the billboard -- it was the lack of a proper permit, claimed Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd), who leaves the City Council this month after 36 years.

Always a stickler for rules, Natarus got a call about the sign and determined the sign company did not have a proper permit.

"I called the building inspector and told him to do his job and he did," Natarus said. "It has nothing to do with content or anything else. They did not have a permit and they were ordered to take it down."

So,we have the Alderman deciding who can get a permit.Speaking of Alderman Natarus,for those of you who don't know,he was one of the few Alderman asked to show up at this Alderman's criminal trial.