TPSI June Rally to Keep Public Names for Public Spaces
On June 23rd we held a rally to keep public names for public spaces following the Executive Committee’s decision on June 20th 2011 to refer the new naming rights and sponsorship policy proposals back to City staff for further clarification. The issue will come back to Exec. on September 6th 2011 and we expect a fight. Mark September 6th in your calendars as we will hold another rally that day (and bring your old signs that you made!).
The new policy proposals would make it easier for the City to sell off the names to public spaces, including parks, playgrounds, as well as programs and services, among other things. Public consultation requirements are extremely weak in the proposals, and appear weaker in some cases than past policies. The goal of the new policies is to sell more and to sell quicker. Where a name is not sold a sponsorship could be sold, which in practice can be of similar effect – given the amount of promotion, logos, and advertising materials that can go along with a sponsorship deal.
About two dozen rallied with us just outside of Spadina station at peak. We chose that location because a city councilor had mentioned that it could be re-named Spadina McDonald’s station. Trinity-Spadina Green Party of Ontario candidate Tim Grant came out to offer support, and noted “The financial woes of our under-funded transit system will only be solved when the province and federal governments provide adequate funding. As such, I am opposed to the sale of naming rights and/or the addition of corporate logos to subway stations and was happy to lend my support at last week’s rally”
Our Position:
Our public spaces reflect the vibrant history and diversity of the City and should not be for sale. The TPSI opposes the new naming rights and sponsorship policies as they erase our civic identity and over-commercialize our shared spaces. We also question the financial sense behind the new policies.
Other Concerns and Points:
Lacking in the current debate and policy proposals are meaningful public consultations. Local communities and service users should have a say in this policy, and should have a say on what their parks are named – and they should be given alternatives. As it is the City would prefer to ignore your voice. That’s a big problem in itself.
Companies that actually want to contribute to the city can – by donating money like the rest of us. They should be recognized like the rest of us too – in a small but reasonable way, with a mention or perhaps a plaque.
A lot of companies already donate money this way to the city without demanding advertising concessions in return. If we start selling more naming rights and sponsorships we will discourage them from doing so as they will be recognized that much less.
Nor we should just accept donated money from anyone – we should have ethical standards in place – which would encourage broader social responsibility and set an example.
Chicago’s Millenium Park
Lastly, we need to be concerned about how this form of advertising is being used to target children. The TPSI notices a trend in which naming rights and sponsorships of children’s playgrounds, features, and programs are being sold off to companies (the Saturn Playground, Franklin Children’s Garden, and numerous library literacy programs). Not to mention that children and youth would use a Spadina McDonald’s’ station and other public spaces.
The Toronto District School Board recently rejected video screens in schools that would have ads on them out of a concern for youth. The Toronto Board of Health has called on a ban of food ads targeting children, and the Ontario Public Health Association has called for a ban on ads aimed at children. The city seems unconcerned with this. What do they know that education officials and medical experts do not?
There are many alternative and more positive ways to save and raise arguably more money – we can better coordinate municipal construction and repair and stop paying highly paid police officers to guard constructions sites. We can fundraise in the community. In fact, the redesign of Museum station was done this way with the help of the Toronto Community Foundation. We hear that there are other cities that sell iconography to tourists to fundraise for their public transit systems. All together we have reason to believe these alternatives would far outstrip any funds raised by selling off public spaces – and they would be more positive and efficient overall. Indeed, selling out public spaces is not only bad in itself – but it might allow the city to go on wasting its money elsewhere.
We also need to question what spending we need in public spaces. There is refurbishment and then there is ‘refurbishment’ with frills that the public may not want if they come attached to corporate names. We believe there is a balance, and in our opinion it is easy for the city to get the balance wrong when it acts alone. This is why public consultation is so important and it’s a shame that it has been lacking.
Since the City won’t hold meaningful public consultations this summer we will. Our ‘mini-public’ consultation will gather average citizens and present all sides of the issue to them so that they can become ‘experts’ on the topic. We will then ask them for a recommendation to the City. Stay tuned for details – and if you want to help out email [email protected]
What You Can Do:
Email your city councilor now to tell them your position. We CAN defeat this and improve existing policies. Find them here.
Click for Photos of the June Rally
A Youtube Video of the Rally by Smile Music Film & Productions
Press
CBC Here and Now Interview, 420PM June 28th
Torontoist Photo and Mention of our June rally to keep public names for public spaces
CTV Article outlining the naming rights debate and the positions of some key members of civil society
A Sympatico News Article – same as above
Toronto Sun Article on the City stepping back from naming rights sales, at least temporarily
Click Here for a Background Document
