This Space for Rent: Call City Hall for Details

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 8, 2011 10:47PM

A trash can marketed by Pepsi. Image Credit: Seth Anderson

Among the many things called for in Mayor Emanuel's proposed budget is $25 million in what's called "municipal marketing." That means everything from trash cans to electrical boxes to the parking meter fare boxes whose revenue the city doesn't see are fair game for advertising and sponsorship.

Chief Financial Officer Lois Scott is in charge of ensuring Emanuel's plan comes to life.

“Those 4,700 pay boxes have some economic value in using that real estate. The city reserved the right to sell advertising on those as part of the transaction with Morgan Stanley” that privatized the 36,000 meters, Scott said.

“There’s also some real interest in those [400] Big Belly [solar trash compactors downtown] and selling the rights to advertise on those. That income stream is also the property of the city. And we’ve had encouraging conversations with ad agencies about electric light boxes that operate street lights.”

Almost makes you wish for more graffiti. For those concerned Emanuel is turning the city into OCP, the mayor had this to day.

“Rather than worry about that side, there are some places where advertising actually may be a beautification,” given the condition of the infrastructure.