Gothamist: Geico - and Gecko - Denied GWB Ad Placement

James Frey

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:21:27 -0500

Tom 10:19 - the Port Authority is supported solely by the revenue it raises from its toll crossings. The "Authority" part in its name means it has the authority to collect tolls - in theory, making it self-sufficient. PA's bridges, tunnels and airports does not receive taxpayer-funded subsidies the way other infrastructure does -- with the exception, of course, of anti-terrorism federal dollars. Having said all of that - the PA was pretty moronic for selling those rights for so... little... money.

dhex

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:06:58 -0500

naming rights are a great thing - it spends less tax money on what is otherwise an empty money pit into the ground of uselessness (for the municipality - for the team it's great as it's basically a subsidized money-printing machine). still, sports teams should fund their own fucking stadiums.

Peter

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:12:24 -0500

The George Washington Bridge already is a huge moneymaker for the Port Authority, with net income of $160 million in 2005. The airports are major profit centers too ($315 MM), as are the Goethals Bridge ($47 MM) and Outerbridge Crossing ($36 MM). The Port Authority incurs minor losses on the tunnels (combined -$20 MM) and the Bayonne Bridge (-$10 MM). On a different note, the big money-losers are the Port Auhtority Bus Terminal (-$48 MM) the seaport facilities (combined -$102 MM), and by far the worst of all, PATH (-$255 MM).

anonymass

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:06:45 -0500

When Geico and other auto insurance companies lower their insane rates to reasonable/afforable levels, then we can talk about sweetheart backroom advertising deals.

pedestrian

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 10:26:34 -0500

Jersey commuters depend on the infrastructure the PA maintains (PATH, Holland, Lincoln, GW). If it wants to make some extra cash by selling ads, fine by me.

Rocknrope

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 10:22:06 -0500

There goes someone's bonus....

bob a booey

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 10:19:33 -0500

Any commenter or politician with half a brain would realize that this is bad news. Rather than raising tolls, the advertising was meant to raise money for the PA. Who cares about seeing a sign above the toll booths when there are a slew of billboards just to the left of the toll plaza that the PA isn’t profiting from because they are on private property???

jack oneil

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 10:19:28 -0500

Why do people care? I want to get through as fast as possible and don't really notice the ads. I don't understand why people get so pissed about silly things like this.

Tom

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 10:19:12 -0500

So let me get this straight... everyone would rather have their taxes raised than have a Geico ad on a bridge that most of us will never cross? Smart move, boneheads.

Peter

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:34:46 -0500

Terrific news! Next step, we've got to get rid of "naming rights" for sports stadiums and arenas.

Peter

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:33:33 -0500

Terrific news! Next step, we've got to get rid of "naming rights" for sports stadiums and arenas.

edEx™

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:16:13 -0500

Note to self: Invent a technique of placing ads in tap water. We gotta get those ads into the home... f*ck magazines! TAP WATER™!