Potential For Ad Space Along Evanston Lakefront To Fix Budget Deficit

By Anna Deem in News on Mar 6, 2011 7:30PM

As Evanston faces its multi-million dollar budget deficit in 2012, officials are looking into new ways to raise money for the city. Case in point: slapping advertisements along structures on the lakefront as a quick means to raise money. This week, the city council gave approval for staff to seek out proposals from third-party advertising vendors, who would be in charge of soliciting advertisements for different city assets in the downtown area and along the lakefront. Evanston residents could eventually see ads on recycling or trash cans in the downtown area, or on lifeguard stands or beach houses on the lakefront.

"There's a critical quality of life issue here," said City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz to the TribLocal. "There is not every community in Illinois coming before city councils saying let's do advertising. I understand that. I also understand that we continue to face multi-million dollar deficits as we move forward." Not all city council members are gung-ho about the advertisements, especially Ald. Melissa Wynne, 3rd. "At a time when our lives are so cluttered with unwanted messages and advertising, you can't buy groceries at the grocery store without being assaulted by television advertising," said Ald. Wynne to the TribLocal. "I find it objectionable that we would coat our city assets with advertising."