In the News Index

Source: Philadelphia Daily News
Date: June 3, 2004
Byline: Editorial

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SKATE OFF

Is the city crazy for turning down a million dollars?

California-based DC Shoes wanted to donate a million bucks so that the Friends of LOVE Park could repair damage that skateboarders do to the park. The goal: create a win-win situation to allow skateboarders to reclaim LOVE Park.

This page does not support one group's complete takeover of public space, especially one of Center City's prime spaces. We have supported a measure that would allow boarders to use the park afternoons and evenings.

Despite that the city's outright rejection of the money also kills the compromise, we still give a thumbs-up to the turn-down.

Corporate sponsorship or support of municipal functions or properties is a tempting idea, especially when city coffers are squeakingly empty and corporate coffers are overflowing. The city has flirted with this idea in the past, considering measures that would sell corporations the right to use the city's name in their marketing. But selling ourselves for a fast buck is a slippery slope we should avoid. The line between selling our citizenry and pimping them is a thin one. Better to err on the side of caution on this one.