Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Toronto: may consider selling naming rights for public spaces

I am sick of public spaces turning into one large advertisement.

Should taxpaid public spaces be part of a company's marketing plan? I say no.

You can just see the corporate takeover coming: of public parks, bike paths, nature trails and hey-- why not-- street names.

A government's function is not to serve as part of a company's marketing strategy. I'm for profit. I'm not for government using its powers to help companies make profits.Once you start selling these things to the highest bidder, governments will be subject to them. They won't be able to close Pepsi Road to work on the water main because Pepsi will lose marketing exposure for which they paid millions.