Standing amid the assortment of new and old buildings in downtown Toronto, Rami Tabello clearly relishes his role as crusader: "Take a look at my handiwork," he boasts, pointing to a rectangle of discolored brick several stories high on the side of a building.

Call them signs of the times: “Rent Me” messages have popped up on many of the billboards around the state, advertising tough times in yet another old-line industry.

Seen from the Long Island Expressway, the Manhattan skyline glows on the evening horizon. The Empire State and Chrysler Buildings rise above the rest, their art deco spires lit up like lighthouses marking the way.

Then the highway dips, and the view changes.

Billboards, a business to some, a bane to others, remain a hot topic in El Paso.

The City Council wants more information before making a big decision on how to regulate billboards.

The council voted 8-0 Wednesday during a special meeting to pursue hiring an independent company to count how many billboards are in El Paso. It also postponed further action for 90 days.