The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously yesterday to extend its citywide billboard moratorium until June 24. The council's 12-0 vote (members Weiss, Wesson and Reyes were absent) came one day after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction barring the city from taking action against 18 unpermitted supergraphics citywide.

U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins' decision was based on evidence provided by SkyTag advertising, which stated that its supergraphics on office buildings were erected before the city's temporary billboard ban went into effect on December 26.

SkyTag is best known for its Statue of Liberty supergraphics, which started popping up last year on buildings all over town.

"The decision is very disturbing,"  said Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight president Dennis Hathaway. "For one thing it is common knowledge what the strategy is -- to poach buildings and stake them out for future commercial advertising. It means that there are 18 more potential supergraphics blighting the city's landscape."