KFC Wants To Fix Chicago's Pothole Problem
Will sponsored pot holes sell chicken? KFC seems to think so. They've asked the City of Chicago if they can fix potholes — in exchange for including a white stencil saying the spot was "Re-freshed by KFC."
Despite the fact that the ads would be a "distraction and safety hazard,"— both Chicago and the State of Illinois are interested in partnering with a private company, says the Sun-Times.
Chicago certainly has its pothole problems - the Transportation Department has filled more than 250,000 street craters this winter. Department spokesman Brian Steele said the city has a lot of questions about KFC's program, like what type of asphalt is used. The city also doesn't allow ads in the public way, because they could create a distraction and safety hazard.
But Steele said the city doesn't reject the idea out of hand - Commissioner Thomas Byrne has already been looking into possible corporate sponsorship for pothole repair - and one unnamed company is a possibility.
...
"We are open to a variety of public-private opportunities and we'd be glad to discuss this one with the firm and see if it fits with Illinois requirements for quality, safety, timeliness and cost-effectiveness," said IDOT spokesman Marisa Kollias.
Wait... Illinois has "requirements for quality, safety, timeliness and cost-effectiveness?" Maybe they should ask KFC if they want to buy some parking meters, too.
KFC wants to sponsor pothole repairs [Sun-Times]
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Comments:
@Murph1908: Good. More chicken for me.
I don't care who fixes the potholes, as long as they are fixed. If they want to spray their logo on it, more power to them. Every one is happy.
But I'll be the first to call April Fools on this one.
@Murph1908: I'd rather they spend advertising dollars making my life just a little bit better rather than deceiving me.
This reminds me of the hotels.com ads with the staff kissing butt for good reviews. If you want my business, do stuff for me.
@exploded: Look on the bright side. At least they still report on Chicago! Some cities *cough*Detroit*cough* that are beyond hope have no one reporting what is going on there serves little purpose other than to depress and slowly kill off folks.
I like this idea, I can't see how this would be any more distracting than the lines and arrows already in the road.
However I should point out that there is a line they could easily cross. Simply stamping their logo on a pothole is not bad. But making additional messages or giving directions to the nearest KFC would indeed cross that line and become too distracting for drivers. As long as this would be done tastefully, it would be done well.
@Murph1908: So you'd rather drive over potholes?
"STOP TAKING OUR TAXES! WAIT WAIT! But don't let corporations sponsor fixes that I don't want to pay for with taxes! Just leave the damn potholes!"
I read in the Trib the other day about them doing this in another city, and immediately said to Ms. Scorpio "They should do that here." I'm glad to see it's actually being considered.
If the city can't be bothered to pay to fix the potholes, I've got no problem with some corporation doing it.
Of course, if they'd stop using asphalt for the main roads to begin with, this would be less of a problem.
@exploded: I think Meg is a Chicago native, so she has an affinity for our beloved (if not a little odd), city.
I just had to pay to get my alignment fixed after hitting a pothole that they should put a ramp in front of and let motorcross folks jump. So, I'm all for it.
@Murph1908: You're a wise man. You should find some potholes that haven't been fixed and purposely drive through them, too. That'll show 'em!
@exploded: I'm not from Illinois, but I live here now. Yes, Chicago is screwed up and so is the whole state.
@winshape: It's still 2 entire days early. And if it's not on April 1st, it's just a prank and not an April Fools joke. Since, you know, April Fools is on April 1st, not March 30th.
@NoWireHangers: I, for one, welcome our new delicious pothole fillings. That asphalt really sticks to the roof of my mouth.
@HiPwr: Well this is how it could go down: the DOT will only allow a specific company to do delicious pot hole patching, and that company is owned by the brother of the president of the road commission. I could totally see that happening.
@rpm773: Who will run the police force? Will they bring the Hambugerler to justice? Can these potholes kill the Grimace?
It's a great idea that won't work. And why is an opinion attributed as fact: "Despite the fact that the ads would be a 'distraction and safety hazard'"?
But why wouldn't it work? Well, the union people who are supposed to fix the roads would file grievances, that's why! Look what happened when the non-profit "Green of Detroit" tried to do some beautifying -- the city employees grumbled that it was their job, and effectively put a halt to the beautification efforts.
@exploded:
Having lived in Chicago for several years as well as living in a few other places throughout the country...
Yes, yes it is.
@invisiblenemies: Yeah, I think the 6 inch deep hole you see seconds before you hit it, and either swerve to miss it or drive into it blowing out your tire/cracking a wheel off/etc... are MUCH more of a hazard. That and them Duke boys.
@trujunglist: Yes, yes it does, but some people think they are ~special~.
If it's not on APRIL 1st, it's not APRIL FOOLS.
March 30th is not April 1st, last I checked. Hell, it's not even April.
@nakedscience: OK, please disregard my previous post. It should read:
But I'll be the first to call "End of March Prank Since It is Technically Not April First and Couldn't Possibly Be Considered an April Fool's Joke" on this one.
Better?
I don't see a problem with this. They already have signs on the side of the road saying that this stretch of highway is sponsored by some company or group, who go out a couple times a year to pick up trash. They already have signs on landscaped medians that have been sponsored by some company.
Why can't they do the same thing here? Maybe not advertise on each pothole, but have a sign saying the roadway surface is sponsored by KFC. As long as the proper asphault used in the proper method, then it shouldn't make a difference who paid for it.
@DeanOfAllTrades: I agree, all the potholes (which I swear are recent) on Peachtree in Buckhead need to be fixed, ASAP...


























Ads create a safety hazard? What about the gaping craters in the pavement?