Venice Beach’s vibrant boardwalk, one of the top tourist destinations in Southern California, could see advertising plastered over much of it under a proposal now being offered by the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.
Logos could be added to benches, basketball court backboards, trashcans, and flagpoles. Why waste that space around the paddle tennis court? In contrast with the city of Santa Monica's plan to , we'll have corporate logos interrupt our views.
Of course we’re told that the ads will merely be tasteful expressions of thanks to corporations for their generous help.
Because the signs would be "thanking" donors, the L.A. Parks Foundation would slip past a law prohibiting advertising there.
It’s a colossally bad idea.
The boardwalk was renovated by a city bond issue that also rebuilt the Venice Pier. Now corporations are trying to take advantage of the growing number of visitors.
Millions of people visit our boardwalk each year. Tens of millions of photographs are taken. Picture Uncle Jim back in Iowa, showing them off. “Here’s Maude, standing before the Gatorade Weight Pen. There she is at the Nike Basketball Court. And that's the Ricola park bench right in front of a marijuana doctor's office.”
Maybe next time we should offer naming rights to L.A. City Hall.
Just because our city is cashed strapped does not mean it has to sell out.
