I guess they really just love branding

A couple of months ago, the city acquired a grant from Domino's for a whopping $5,000 to participate in a cynical marketing campaign fix a few potholes. There were those among us at the time who protested a bit at the crassness of this arrangement. The city was agreeing to turn the public streets into pizza ads in exchange for temporary, superficial repairs to what roughly works out to about 50 potholes. The only significant benefit produced is cheap publicity for Domino's.

Moreover by entering into the deal, city leaders were tacitly endorsing the false argument that essential public services like infrastructure maintenance could best be achieved through the optional benevolence of private entities who receive a benefit in kind. They weren't just selling out a few public spaces, they were signing on to an entire ideology of corrupt corporatism. 

define neoliberalism in one news story pic.twitter.com/yvOdwxVE8Y

— Current Affairs (@curaffairs) June 13, 2018

To those of us who raised this objection, though, it was pointed out that the city did have the option of accepting the grant and applying it to roadwork without actually agreeing to do the ads.

The grant also comes with a stencil kit to mark up the grant-funded pothole work with the Domino's logo, and a magnet to apply to the vehicles completing the work. Bulger said using those brand materials was optional.

“We give it to them and hope they use them,” she said. “People are passionate about pizza and about potholes, so it goes together.”

So it would be stupid not to just take the money. It's not much but it's fine if there are no strings attached. We were asked to have a little faith in our leaders that they wouldn't allow themselves and our streets to be exploited for this propaganda stunt.

Oh well.

Thanks @dominos 🍕 for choosing #NewOrleans as a partner in your Paving for Pizza Campaign! @cityofnola @mayorcantrell pic.twitter.com/2JJLDDAMAP

— Roadwork Nola (@roadworknola) December 1, 2018