Clarke To Unveil Plan To Wrap City Owned Property In Advertisements
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - City Council President Darrell Clarke today introduces his plan to place advertising on city-owned buildings and vehicles as a way of boosting revenue without boosting taxes.
Clarke's detailed plan to allows for city owned buildings like rec centers, and equipment like trash trucks, to run ads. He says a consulting firm hired by Council conservatively estimates that Philly could bring in $10 million a year:
"We think it's very important, as I've said time after time, to create revenue opportunities for the city other than sticking our hands into the citizens' pockets and increasing taxes."
Other cities, Clarke says, have long since done this:
"Across the nation, municipalities are advertising on publicly-owned property and they're making millions and millions of dollars," he said. "So I think it's time for the city of Philadelphia to go after these dollars that are lying on the table."
Under Clarke's proposal, a committee would be established to help determine both the content and location of ads on city properties. Clarke first floated the idea more than a year ago, and he says introducing formal legislation now will help move the idea forward.
Groups opposed to outdoor advertising are expected to assail the proposal.
