It makes you wonder what that makes the people who do his bidding......
Street furniture' deal gets grudging thumbs-up
May 01, 2007
John Spears
CITY HALL BUREAU
Without dissent but with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, Toronto's keystone executive committee has backed a controversial plan to give Astral Media Outdoor LP the job of providing the city's street furniture for the next 20 years.
Some glum-looking councillors from the city's left wing backed the plan, which will see Astral provide thousands of items, from bus shelters to bike racks, for city streets.
The plan allows Astral to sell ads on bus shelters and information pillars. In return, the city gets about $21 million a year from Astral.
"I'm going to vote for this agreement; I'm holding my nose," said Councillor Howard Moscoe (Ward 15, Eglinton Lawrence).
Citizens who had mounted a furious lobby against what they viewed as the city selling off public space for profit were far more outspoken.
"Once again the advertising company wins, city councillors and the public have no say, and the mayor is proud to be the city's pimp," a bitter Jonathan Goldsbie of the Toronto Public Space Committee said after the vote.
Goldsbie and a dozen others appeared before the committee to lambaste the proposal, including provisions for the total amount of advertising allowed.
More
No comments:
Post a Comment