Thursday, 4:30 PM
City Council President: 3rd time won't be the charm for guerilla marketers
By Globe Staff
Boston City Council President Maureen E. Feeney today renewed her vow to hold public hearings to explore ways to combat guerrilla marketing after the second advertising stunt in less than a month took aim at Boston.
"It is intolerable that companies should exploit city resources at the expense of public safety and even historic property for a cheap promotion," Feeney said in a statement. "As a city government, we must act to prevent the negative impact of these marketing activities."
Feeney first proposed holding hearings last month after police responded to a series of reports of possible bombs that turned out to be electronic signs promoting a Cartoon Network show, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." The companies involved in that stunt paid $2 million in restitution to local governments and law enforcement agencies.
On Thursday, the makers of the soft drink Dr Pepper cancelled the Boston leg of a 23-city treasure hunt after irate city officials charged it was "disrespectful" that the company hid a coin inside a 17th-century cemetery home to the graves of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and other founding American patriots.
Feeney wants to tighten regulations and increase fines for companies that utilize similar covert promotional campaigns. The hearing has been tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 6 inside the council chamber at City Hall.
