My conversation with Mike Wendorf for Park Board
I met Mike Wendorf, who is running for the Park District 3 seat here in Minneapolis, at the King’s Fair yesterday.
(As a 501c3, Parents for Ethical Marketing cannot endorse politicial candidates, but I can let you know how candidates feel about issues important to us.)
After I introduced myself and heard Mike’s “elevator speech” (his words), I asked him: What’s your take on corporate partnerships and advertising in public parks?
Mike said, and I paraphrase: Imagine biking down the parkway, and instead of yellow lines down the middle, you saw small Target logos. . . .
I was a little nervous about where he was going with this. But he continued: It wouldn’t be right. The parks are the only place you are free from it. We have to have that space away from [commercialism].
He and his wife Erin went on to tell my about the recent Target-sponsored fireworks during the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Target distributed 3-D glasses that made the lights of the fireworks ook like little Target bullseyes.
My jaw dropped. I don’t know why this stuff continues to shock me.
Mike went on to say that he didn’t mean to pick on Target and that there were ways to work with corporate donors. We disussed last year’s Lowe’s advertising issue and the Red Bull display along the Stone Arch Bridge. He said he felt the Red Bull display was more art than advertising and did not seem to mind it.
You can read more about Mike and his park platform at the Minneapolis Park Watch blog.
Image courtesy howieluvzus