Politician Self-Promotion Watch

by Paul Bass | May 9, 2006 8:39 AM | | Comments (5)

Wait. Wasn’t the name of this building “Troup School”?

The city fenced off the 81 year-old school last summer to begin a $25 million renovation. (Click here to read about what a historic gem it is, and will remain.) At the time, this sign went up with, you guessed it, the mayor/ gubernatorial candidate’s name bigger than everyone else’s. Still, it wasn’t too out of line with the kind of taxpayer-funded advertising politicians do all the time on public projects.

Now the city has wrapped a banner around the block, and DeStefano has set new bounds for self-promotion on the public dime. His name appears several times. Even drunk drivers can’t miss it: Letters range from 21 to 26 inches.

The city’s major campaign contributor … er, construction firm … gets even bigger billing: 27.5 inches for most letters, with the “F” in Fusco topping off at 40.

As for the suffragist and labor organizer after whom the school was named? No letters larger than 21 inches. (She doesn’t have a “J” in her name.)

Of course, it’s all about the “kids,” who rank letters half the size of the mayor’s. (The “s” gets a whole 8.5 inches.)







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Comments

Posted by: Bruce | May 9, 2006 9:46 AM

Why is my tax money paying for political campaign advertising??? Every time I start to like Destefano, he turns around and plays one of his old tricks. Come on, John.

Posted by: JSJ | May 9, 2006 11:32 AM

We should be happy that Ms. Lewis and the first kids got any space at all. I'm sure that kind of signage real estate has a decent market value, and there are probably more than a few who would pony up for 8.5" and 20" letters. Maybe there are even enough to justify wrapping an adjacent block?

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | May 9, 2006 12:27 PM

Sketchy to say the least. It's this kind of stuff that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when people speak 'politics.'

Posted by: ctkeith | May 9, 2006 3:56 PM

This doesn't bother me as much as JDS and Malloy both bragging about their own draft age kids (if there was one) yet saying nothing about the kids killed in the Iraq war as they stump across Ct.

They're both happy to take the war out of the Debate to help their old freind Joe Lieberman.After All "the Iraq War is just one issue" and who cares if a few poor kids who thought they were going to get their college paid for by serving in the national guard get killed.

Right Dan and John?

Posted by: Bill Bixby | May 9, 2006 7:31 PM

I have the misfortune to live directly across the street from this thing. In fact, I can see a portion of it which reads: "JOHN DEST", as I write.


If I recall correctly, billboards, which this certainly is, are not permitted in a residential zone. Could it possibly be that the city, or the mayor, is in violation of the zoning ordinance?


I'm shocked . . shocked.

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