Ad Creep
October 19th, 2006
Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina is one of the most diverse wards in the city, encompassing the University of Toronto, Chinatown, Kensington Market, and the Annex. Anyone who hopes to represent such a varied and distinctive ward must understand the pressures that ad creep is placing upon the dynamics of these unique neighbourhood identities.
Every candidate I’ve spoken with, regardless of their riding, has underscored the importance of defending and respecting neighbourhood character. Hopefully the enthusiasm with which some candidates have responded will be carried with them into City Hall, where the ideals of public space they have espoused can be implemented.
In this vein, here are two of the eight candidates competing for your vote in Ward 20:
Chris Ouellette, candidate, Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina
That ad creep in Toronto has the potential to get out of control is no surprise to Mr. Ouellette. In his response to my e-mail, he remarked that regardless of what final action is taken on ad creep, something must be done to ensure that Yonge and Dundas Square does not become the norm for downtown Toronto advertising.
In response to the proliferation of illegal advertising, he said: “We could aim for more stringent bylaws, which restrict where billboards go up and their size. Yonge & Dundas Square and the Eatons Centre are already lost so maybe we aim to restrict it to certain zones where we feel the need to New York-ify ourselves — and here, wait for it, here it comes, let’s enforce those bylaws!”
Ouellette also argued that revenue streams gained through advertising will be “marginal, especially in the case of the TTC, and are probably non-existent if you factor in the subconscious mental trauma it is inflicting on the population.”
Members of the Toronto Public Space Committee’s Billboard Batallion have been arguing that very idea for far too long. Recognition of the problem that illegal billboards pose in Toronto is the first — and long overdue — first step in getting organized enough to tackle a daunting problem on Toronto’s streets.
Adam Vaughan, candidate, Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina
It is clear that Adam Vaughan has some strong ideas on how he would reshape the public spaces of Ward 20. One visit to the “Our Issues” section of his campaign website will reveal a detailed list of his thoughts and ambitions for the numerous individual communities within this diverse ward.
Here are a sample of his thoughts on various ad creep issues:
Ad Blight: “As the city becomes more and more cluttered with advertising a chorus of complaints arise…instead of curtailing their commercial activity, council tends to go after things like postering and graffiti. Corporate images are thus seen as revenue, all others as a nuiscance.”
Video Billboards: “Video billboards are fine. I think commercial time on the giant screens should be controlled like commercial time on regular TV is — 10 or 12 minutes per hour. The rest of the time video display boards should be made available to local artists. The medium is not the problem, the message is.”
(While I strongly disagree with Mr. Vaughan’s statement on video billboards, I have reprinted it here in full. The presence of enormous movie screens in public spaces and beside major motor ways is highly problematic for public safety and the urban aesthetic.)
Postering: “I support limits on postering. Postering is speech and free speech is very important to protect…people putting up posters should not vandalize other peoples buildings…I think the city should design a framing mechanism or a collar to make it look a little less chaotic… free speech is about the right to express ideas: it is not a guarantee that you’ll have an audience.”
Neighbourhood Diversity: “In my ward there are at least 15 distinct neighbourhoods. Each one constitutes its own little village, and each one deserves its own design. The waterfront is as different from the Annex as both are from Kensington. I do not support a standardized city-wide approach to design.”
For more candidate views on ad creep, please see Andy’s previous posts here, and here.
photo by Sam Javanrouh
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Permalink for Ward 20’s Vaughan, Ouellette discuss ad creep
Posted by Andy Reeves
Categories Toronto-2006, Ad Creep
October 12th, 2006
Which one of our mayors-to-be wants to privatize our streets? From Wednesday night’s election meeting at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, the answer appears to be Stephen LeDrew.
The Islington Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association put forward a proposal to clean and corporatize Toronto streets and asked for comments from Ledrew, David Miller, and Jane Pitfield. A variation of the “adopt a highway” scheme in rural areas, businesses would sponsor sections of Toronto and hire street and sidewalk cleaners–in exchange for highly visible advertising.
Ledrew was enthusiastic about the idea. “It’s a terrific proposal,” he said, as long as civic-minded businesses were involved. “Our roads in this city are deteriorating.” Throughout the meeting he said repeatedly that streets needed to be kept clean and safe.
Pitfield reacted strongly against the proposal and called it unnecessary. She argued that the City, not businesses, was responsible for the cleanliness of the streets. However, she was vague on how to fund the initiative. Miller was evasive and said that although he liked the general idea of public-private partnerships, he “might get to it in a slightly different way.”
Ledrew, Miller, and Pitfield also debated a variety of topics, such as the waterfront and financial accountability. Afterwards, local candidates were present to answer questions from Etobicoke residents.
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Permalink for Etobicoke candidates’ forum
Posted by Julia Lo
Categories Toronto-2006, Mayor, Streetscape, Ad Creep
October 11th, 2006
With a bit of prodding, two more candidates in Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park have weighed in on the ad creep issues that impact their community.
John Colautti, candidate, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park
Colautti, former executive assistant to outgoing councillor Sylvia Watson, attacked the Eucan MegaBins as the most notorious and offensive example of Ad Creep in his ward.
He shared many of Spacing’s beefs with the advertisement-laden garbage bins, and said “the cans were taller and wider than the previous bins, yet held less garbage and recyclables. It was obvious that these bins were designed with advertising, rather than garbage, in mind.”
He said that as councillor he would stop the proliferation of advertising vehicles “that don’t contribute to the beautification of public space.”
Colautti also proposed the use of the Ward 14 Community Roundtable as a consultative board of citizens on any contentious issue that may arise, and recommended the coordinated street furniture program as an excellent issue for community discussion.
“Once the designs are made public, and before councillors are asked to vote, I will be consulting with community stakeholders to hear their views through this collaborative process. My final decision will take these views into account,” he said.
Rowena Santos, candidate, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park
This candidate was refreshing, candid, and intelligent in her response.
Santos opened with the justified claim that the “pressures of gentrification pushing west into Ward 14 threaten the small business community, access to public space, and identity of our Parkdale, Roncesvalles, Liberty Village, and Junction neighbourhoods.”
She went on to specify that “residents are concerned about losing village charm, especially when they see Eucan MegaBins that hold more advertising than rubbish…or see a growing number of advertisements for new condominiums and hear of a Starbucks popping up at the doorway to Roncesvalles Village.”
She also discussed the problems of privatizing both Palais Royale and Lamport Stadium. “Residents are frustrated with the selling out of existing public spaces, or even ‘potential’ public spaces, in a community where public space is minimal to begin with,” she argued.
“While we are in need of more urban furniture it should be designed and integrated for public use and to compliment the unique charm of our neighbourhoods for years to come. In great cities like Barcelona or Curitiba, public space, and urban furniture are designed with public enjoyment and accessibility as a priority. Instead of advertising and billboards, there is poetry and art on telephone poles. It’s no surprise to see Barcelona and Curitiba recognized as two of the world’s most ‘liveable’ cities. Toronto has much to learn from them,” she said.
As such, designers must be aware that the form of new street furniture may fit the character and available space in some communities, while being highly inappropriate in others, she explained.
photo by Sam Javanrouh
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Permalink for Ad Creep in Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park
Posted by Andy Reeves
Categories Toronto-2006, Ad Creep
September 30th, 2006
Most of the candidates I contacted about their views on the effects of advertising on public space have failed to respond, and what responses there were have slowed to a trickle. If this overwhelming silence is an indicator of the issue’s importance, then ad creep is not on the public’s radar.
This is a strange phenomenon, if you really think about it. The Toronto media has been abuzz lately with hot-button election issues that are incredibly important, but often slightly detached from our everyday lives. For instance, how often do most Torontonians use the Gardiner Expressway? According to a Toronto Star headline on Sept. 28, over 70 per cent of the daily traffic on the Gardiner comes from motorists living outside Toronto. And how often do people take their trash directly to a municipal dump? Most of us place our garbage on the curb for the city to remove, or throw it down a chute in our condominium building. Yet the St. Thomas landfill debate, while incredibly important and long overdue, impacts the daily lives of Torontonians in only a vague and detached way. Once the garbage has been dragged to the curb, people tend not to think about where it goes, so long as it is off their sidewalk when they get home from work!
Yet ad encroachment issues (the clutter of sandwich boards on the sidewalk, the advertisements wrapping the bus stops, the illegal billboards blocking my view of the skyline, and the glass-encased placard on the wall in front of the urinal while I pee) have faded to the background, almost unnoticeable. And that, as Mayor Miller would say, is unacceptable.
While I continue to press candidates for their thoughts on these issues (and to clarify, I don’t accept being cc’d on an email from the candidate to their staff saying only “more questions from Spacing” as a response), I have two more candidates to share with you.
Ted Lojko, candidate, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park
Mr. Lojko was punctual and thoroughly helpful in his responses. He expressed concern over the increase in “ugly” advertising on our streets, and sent me a photo of enormous electronic billboards at the intersection of Queen Street West and Roncesvalles Avenue. He said that “working with local residents, businesses and advertisers to come up with a workable public advertising policy for the City” is the most beneficial way to strike a balance, while targeting problematic billboard and ad-garbage bin policies.
“I do believe advertising is an essential part to the City’s economy and flavour of the community. Remember, a community group may use advertising to raise awareness for a specific cause. However, the appearance and mode of the advertisement must fit within the characteristic of the community.”
The overwhelming fault with this statement is that the “characteristic of the community” is highly subjective. Also, certain city councillors have been fighting tooth and nail to restrict the rights of individuals and citizen groups to raise awareness for their own specific causes. In a way I agree: some advertising can be an essential flavour of the community as interpreted, created, and enjoyed by that community, and not by an advertising firm.
“Ensuring that public spaces are protected and remain in public hands” is a top priority, he assured me.
Joe Mihevc, incumbent candidate, Ward 21, St. Paul’s
A darling of the Toronto Public Space Committee, Mr. Mihevc has been noted as one of the few councillors with a willingness to fight ad-creep.
Mr. Mihevc responded that as he saw it, “the key issue is a poorly regulated, poorly enforced third-party sign system.” He went on to claim that the process used to determine which billboards are illegal takes months, and that over 60 per cent of the third-party billboards in his ward alone are illegal. “I am hearing that my residents want greater controls and restrictions on third-party advertising, that they are tired/overwhelmed with the sheer volume” of the ads appearing in their community, he said.
Regarding his record on Council as a defender of public spaces, Mr. Mihevc responded:
“…led the charge to stop a video ad at Royal York Road and the QEW from going up. The audit I undertook in my ward has been used to set in place a review of the sign bylaw, and its administration. Thirdly, I led the charge to stop video advertising from being installed in subway cars. These are three major victories.”
And three major ways, we’re happy to say, in which Toronto’s public spaces are a little more ad-free.
photo by Bouke Salverda
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Permalink for Ad creep falls below the public radar
Posted by Andy Reeves
Categories Toronto-2006, Spacing, Ad Creep
September 21st, 2006
Public space issues often receive support during election campaigns, only to be pushed aside once the votes are in. But with the death of the EUCAN megabins in late June, and the current contract to coordinate Toronto’s street furniture underway, Torontonians have reason to hope that advertising encroachment, or “ad creep,” will become part of a serious discussion as we near Nov. 13.
Earlier this week, I contacted all candidates registered with whorunsthistown.to in Wards 14,19,20,21,23 and 28 — wards with significant advertising issues — to learn what their stands are on advertising in public spaces, what their constituents could reasonably expect of them on the ad creep issue if elected, and what public space issues they have previously been active on.
So far, few have responded. I admit I anticipated a number of truly political responses, the sort which say a lot without saying anything at all. Surprisingly, candidates have been refreshingly candid. Here are a few responses:
Nick Boragina, candidate, Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina
Mr. Boragina was the first candidate to respond to my questionnaire.
“After looking at how high taxes are, and how little the city’s programs are funded…I don’t see a problem with advertisements in public spaces, and would rather see more of them if it means a better service for the government.”
Doug Lowry, candidate, Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina
Mr. Lowry provided me with a lengthy but confusing account of his take on public spaces in Toronto. He spoke more about corporate sponsorship than he did about corporate advertising, but much of what Mr. Lowry said is worth noting.
“If the advertising makes sense from the company’s other actions, we are a cycnical society, but if it makes sense then the advertising is good…I would say the landscaping signs along the Gardiner Expressway makes sense and those companies get a generally good response for their actions.”
Hmm.
On his thoughts regarding postering, video billboards, and street furniture:
“The design is more important than anything else.”
Mr. Lowry did indicate his love of city murals, and the work he and other citizens undertook in Trenton, Ont., in a letter-writing campaign to save a local historical mural from commercial advertising.
John Filion, incumbent candidate, Ward 23, Willowdale
Mr. Filion directed my attention to his record as councillor in response to my questions. He has been an adequate voice at City Hall in a crowd notoriously indifferent — and often hostile — to ad creep issues.
Mr. Filion listed several key accomplishments during his term:
“As Chair of Planning and Transportation, brought through a bylaw that gets rid of commercial postering and provides for adequate enforcement.”
“Have stopped all video display signs in my ward.”
“Have consistently (and effectively) opposed any exemptions to bylaws to allow more billboards in the area.”
“Didn’t participate in the pilot project for the large commercial public garbage bins.”
If adequate government services are dependent upon City Hall blanketing Toronto in commercial advertising, than perhaps the ways in which government services are funded should be reviewed. What would stop Council, for example, from granting advertising contracts ad nauseum when funds were running low for social programming? (Need a playground for your neighbourhood? Throw an ad-wrap around the slide!) Nothing should be sacrificed, least of all our public spaces, to provide the services Torontonians are taxed for.
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Permalink for Candidates speak out on ad creep
Posted by Andy Reeves
Categories Toronto-2006, Ad Creep
September 20th, 2006
While doing my evening news round-up I came across an interesting article on the BBC’s website about a brash move by the mayor of Brazil’s largest city.
Mr Kassab [Sao Paulo’s mayor] has submitted a bill to the Sao Paulo city council that would completely change the urban environment, prohibiting practically all outdoor ads in their present form. “I know the bill is radical, but it’s emblematic,” he says. “It’s controversial, but necessary for the city.”
Ordinary Paulistanos are not too keen, fearing that the city’s grey concrete would look even greyer without the generous splashes of colour provided by advertising.
“It would be like New York without Times Square,” said one. “No, it would be like eastern Europe before the fall of communism,” said another.
Others have dismissed the initiative as a publicity stunt by Mr Kassab, but Brazil’s advertising agencies are worried.
The remainder of the article can be found here. It goes on to describe billboard advertising as evidence of a strong Brazilian middle class. It is also over running every surface in the city, as well as a bastion of racism towards the country’s sizable Afro-Brazilian population with its few black models. Doesn’t sound too different from some common complaints towards Canadian advertisers.
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Permalink for Sao Paulo mayor moves to ban billboards
Posted by Dave Scrivener
Categories Toronto-2006, Streetscape, Other Cities, Ad Creep
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