You know how Verizon and Super Bowl 50 were doing that huge wrap of Four Embarcadero Center over the last two weeks — the one that ran into a humorous snafu last week? Some commenters actually asked how SF even allowed such a big obnoxious ad to happen, and it turns out they didn't! As the Examiner reports, City Attorney Dennis Herrera is now demanding it get removed.

You may recall that voters approved Proposition G in 2002 which sought to avoid exactly this kind of advertising, banning all new large-scale ads of this sort. The proposition, voted into law, grandfathered in all existing billboard advertising, and allowed such billboards to be moved with city approval to legal locations, but disallowed any new "general advertising signs."

Verizon's lawyers may have decided to take the gamble, however, because SF's own Planning Department admitted impotence last week, saying, "Even if we did enforce [the law], due process would allow them to stay up for 30 days. They are expected to be removed in a timely manner after February 7th."

But will SF stand for such corporate insolence? As this local Flickr user calls the Verizon example, such signage is "advertising at the zenith of poor taste."

Says Herrera's office, "The Verizon signs installed on Four Embarcadero fall within the definition of a general advertising sign prohibited in San Francisco. These signs as installed could not have been permitted by the Planning Department because they violate City law."

Looks like the Super Bowl Host Committee and the property owner just went ahead with this without asking anyone?

Herrera promises to sue for a temporary restraining order against Verizon if the signs aren't removed by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday.

Sorry, Verizon. And welcome to San Francisco, Super Bowl 50.

Previously: How SF's Massive Super Bowl Ads Ducked Permit Fees, Billboard Regulations
Photo Du Jour: Embarcadero Center Super Bowl Wrap Fail