CITYWATCH TODAY—It took until the last two paragraphs but the Times got it right today. If you’re going to mess with LA’s parks … LAT says …no advertisements, be open and transparent and involve the public in your thinking and decision-making.
Here’s the way the Times put it: … if government goes forward with public-private partnerships, it must do so without allowing the crass commercialization of precious park space or letting corporate sponsors dictate park policy. Cities and states should not put public spaces up for sale to the highest bidders. Going forward,
the Recreation and Parks Department ought to develop clear policies on when, where and how sponsors may put logos on public property. The lesson from the bungled Runyon Canyon basketball court is that if parks officials want to incorporate private investment in a way that enhances public assets, they’re going to have to work more closely with park users.
As Tim Deegan has reported throughout, in CityWatch, people power played a key role in getting this thing turned around. Another lesson from this political tug-of-war. Tim brings everything up to date again … in Today’s CityWatch …
… that and much more. Check it out. Let us know what you think!
Ken Draper-Editor, CityWatch
