AIDS Walk Makes Big Deal of Big Blue Bus Ad Ban, Wrongly Cries 'Discrimination'

matthew

I don't live in Santa Monica and I usually just read the LA Weekly for the music listings. But clearly the author of this article has something to prove other than being an unbiased reporter of facts. I give the "group" as you call them credit for calling this policy into question. I wonder if Santa Monica is the only city that has this policy or is it others? If it is others, I hope other "groups" bring the same policy into question. It should definitely be reviewed. Public Service ads not being allowed to be displayed on public funded vehicles. No sense in that.

Craig_R_Miller

1 Like

Please show me one example of APLA or AIDS Walk Los Angeles calling anyone a bigot in this matter!

Some people wrongly presume that just because an AIDS organization uses the word “discrimination,” it must refer to LGBT people, or to people with HIV, or to the misguided people who hate them. Not true. And we make no such accusations here. In fact, the topic is quite different and much broader.

The discrimination by Big Blue Bus that APLA rightly points out is against all charitable organizations providing vital social services. Instead of allowing the posting of some of the most socially useful advertising messages from within our community, Big Blue Bus now only allows corporate entities promoting endless commercialism. We’re talking about BBB discrimination in favor of Coca Cola and against the Juvenile Diabetes Association; discrimination in favor of oil companies and gasoline products, and against neighborhood groups that want to promote a local carpool. It is discrimination, and it is absurd!

The truth of what happened here is that some unelected City Hall insiders have really stepped in it (and now they want to change the subject). They decided to themselves make this huge change in advertising practices without inviting community input (in fact, they rebuffed it); without appropriately involving the elected Mayor and Council Members; and, apparently, without consulting community values or common sense. City Hall insiders underestimated the importance of community on this one; are offended that their judgment has been challenged by mere constituents; and are now being rightfully held to account. Maybe they will prevail. Maybe they won’t. But in any case, it should interesting. I hope my neighbors will join me at the Santa Monica City Council meeting tonight to speak their minds, regardless of whose side they’re on.

As for bigotry, we agree. Let’s not let that false argument distract from the real issue here.

This isn’t about bad people. It’s about bad policy.

Craig R. Miller, 29-year resident of Santa Monica and Founder of AIDS Walk Los Angeles

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@Craig_R_Miller I think your quote says it all:

"All these years later, to be dealing with this discrimination again, just shows that whoever changed this policy has no concept of history, and no concept of the important role that organizations like AIDS Project Los Angeles play in society ... "

This kind of discrimination?

Craig_R_Miller

@djromero

Yes, this kind of discrimination! The kind that, during the Reagan years, kept the burgeoning AIDS epidemic out of the media, and out of the public eye. It was then, and is now, a failure on the part of certain parties to recognize the importance of communicating about public health issues.

Today, here in Santa Monica, this is more broadly about discriminating against public service messages in favor of ads promoting an extra large Coca Cola; discrimination against community and in favor of corporations. We're not like this in Santa Monica. And our City’s policies should reflect our community’s values, not just the preferences, or percieved turf, of certain City staff.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@Craig_R_Miller But ... I'll give you 10 points for media manipulations. AIDS Walk got its headlines out of this, even if innocents who are probably down with your cause had to be thrown under ... THE BUS!

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@Craig_R_Miller I agree with your message and hope you get your ads back. But I stand by the facts: By saying "to be dealing with this discrimination again" is to be painting city officials with a bigotry that is not theirs. There is no "certain city staff here." Only folks trying to do best by their community. As explained, they cannot legally discriminate based on content. If anything they are NOT discriminating. Capiche?

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@Craig_R_Miller And BTW this idea that "City Hall insiders" made a huge change without community input again is wrong. This policy has been on the books for at least 10 years.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@Craig_R_Miller Thanks for weighing in. Your organization's press release uses the word discriminatory twice and discrimination once. Those who discriminate in the way you describe are usually bigots. It's fairly simple. And you're wrong. The city of Santa Monica is not discriminating against you, plain and simple.

margehomer

http://goo.gl/30Xwi

KeithKellum

Not sure I understand the need for the ban in the first place. Do they have to accept every advertisement that is submitted? I'm sure they have said no to commercial companies over the years for a variety of reasons so I don't see why they couldn't say no to a non-profit as well. Also, what would stop a commercial company from buying ad space and advertising the event? Hypothetically, the Long Beach Marathon (which is run by a race company, not a non-profit) could advertise on the bus but if the same race was run by a non-profit (like many road events), they could not advertise?

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@KeithKellum Yeah. The rationale is they either ban everything of this type or nothing. The idea is they can't pick and choose based on content.

btfordham

1 Like

@djromero @KeithKellum

That is the PHONY rationale to cover up how the City staff erred with this policy. The truth is Big Blue Bus already picks and chooses. They choose not to accept ads for alcohol, tobacco, or political campaigns.

The question is not whether lines can be drawn, the question is how the lines are to be drawn, and Santa Monicans owe AIDS Project Los Angeles a big thank you for pointing that out.

Ben Fordham, AIDS Walk Los Angeles

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@SAH7102 @djromero I don't think it's unseemly to defend the facts. It's upstanding for AIDS Walk officials to comment but unseemly for me to? Doesn't really make sense.

SAH7102

@djromero So are the writers here encouraged to troll the comments on their own articles and insult those participating in a reasonable discussion? Or is that just this author's charming personal touch? In any case, pretty unseemly, even for LA Weekly.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@btfordham @KeithKellum Ben, that's right, they have a blanket policy against alcohol, tobacco, political campaigns and firearms advertising. Again, blanket. Not choosing between parties or candidates. Get it? (Probably not). The only thing phony here is your group's campaign to make good people look bad.