Traffic sign hacked to display vulgar retort

West Palm Beach — As commuters may recall, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel took advantage of a roadside sign along the North Dixie Highway reconstruction project to express empathy with traffic-bound drivers this month. "I Am Mad Too! - Lois," her message flashed.

Now, someone has responded anonymously to the mayor's frustration. Tuesday morning, the electronic board displayed an obscene message.

Whoever left the message then locked the metal box housing the sign's keyboard, so that road workers were unable to change the words and had to shut the sign off altogether, which they did shortly after 9 a.m. Someone from the sign leasing company arrived with the key later in the day.

The mayor, for her part, took it in stride. "Happy Thanksgiving," she said. "It's a silly response. I understand the frustration, but this is a very special week for us to give joy for all the blessings that we have."