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MEDIA ADVISORY  
For events occurring August 26, 2014


                                               
CONTACT: Michael Scippa 415 548-0492
Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336

 Despite Massive Lobbying by Clear Channel and JCDecaux, Coalition to Ban Alcohol Ads on Public Property in Los Angeles Urges City Planning and Land Use Management Committee to Say No to Outdoor Alcohol Ads at LAX

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                                                                                                             Photo by Dennis Hathaway

Committee Hearing on the Issue Takes Place Tuesday

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (August 25, 2014) – The Coalition to Ban Alcohol Ads on Public Property in Los Angeles (www.NoAlcoholAds.org) will be present tomorrow at the City Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) hearing to demand that the newly proposed LAX outdoor sign district not include alcohol ads.

“In the dying days of summer, JCDecaux, Clear Channel and their lobbyists, think they can sneak this measure through with nobody watching and no opposition,” stated Jorge Castillo, Advocacy Director at Alcohol Justice and member of the Coalition to Ban Alcohol Ads on Public Property in Los Angeles. “We may not have their spending budget but we have the endorsement of the community. To protect the public health and safety of L.A. residents and visitors, we’ll urge the PLUM committee to just say NO to outdoor alcohol ads at LAX.”

The public is encouraged to TAKE ACTION – Click here http://bit.ly/1tIBuka to tell the PLUM Committee – NO OUTDOOR ALCOHOL ADS AT LAX.

According to official reports from the City Ethics Commission, in just the first six months of 2014, JCDecaux has spent $190,000 lobbying to secure city advertising contracts and to make sure alcohol ads are not excluded from contracts covering LAX. The firms they paid to lobby on their behalf include: Englander, Knabe & Allen, Ek & Ek, and Molina Consulting. JCDecaux has the current LAX indoor advertising contract.

In addition, Clear Channel in the first six months of 2014 has spent $ 241,000 lobbying to secure city advertising contracts and insure that alcohol ads would not be excluded from any contract.

"Money should never be part of this discussion. It is very dangerous. Young people that see those signs suffer great harm in their lives from the use of alcohol," stated Kitty Dukakis, a coalition supporter.

What:   Los Angeles City Planning and Land Use Management Committee Hearing

When:  Tuesday, August 26, 2014 2:30 P.M.

Where: Room 350, L.A. City Hall, 200 North Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Why:  
  • The sign district would allow almost 300,000 sq. ft. of new off-site advertising on terminal buildings and parking structures. That includes almost 40,000 sq. ft. of digital displays with brightly-lit, changeable messages.
  • Alcohol is an estimated $116 billion-per-year industry in the U.S., and underage drinkers are responsible for 20% of all alcohol consumed and for 19% (or $22.5 billion) of alcohol industry revenues.
  • Advertisements promoting alcoholic beverages are pervasive, and oversight is left to ineffective self-regulation by the alcohol industry.
  • A 2006 study that found reductions in alcohol advertising could produce declines in adolescent alcohol consumption (e.g., a 28% reduction in alcohol advertising would reduce adolescent monthly alcohol participation from 25% to between 24 and 21%, and binge drinking from 12% to between 11 and 8%).
  • Despite claims of economic necessity, revenue from alcohol ads comprises less than 1% of reporting agencies’ operating revenue
  • Last December, UCLA, Center for Alcohol Marketing to Youth, & Dr. Jonathan Fielding submitted clear and compelling evidence that alcohol advertising on city owned property encourages youth

The Coalition to Ban Alcohol Ads on Public Property in Los Angeles is a grassroots effort.

Coalition members include:

American Indian Movement – WEST

Alcohol Justice

Asian American Drug Abuse Program Inc.

Boyle Heights Stakeholders Association

Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight

Community Coalition

Institute for Public Strategies

Koreatown Youth & Community Center

Mexican History Foundation

Mothers of East L.A. (MELA)

Personal Involvement Center, Inc.

P3 Partnership for a Positive Pomona

Phoenix House

Pillar of Fire Church & School

Paso por Paso

Pueblo y Salud

Saving Lives Drug and Alcohol Coalition

Sycamore Grove School

Tarzana Treatment Centers & AWARE Coalition

T.R.E.A.T Advocacy & Support for Recovering Individuals

The Wall Las Memorias Project

United Coalition East Prevention Project

Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Southern California

Women Against Gun Violence

Writers In Treatment

Supporters include:

Michael & Kitty Dukakis, former Massachusetts Governor & First Lady

Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council

California Council on Alcohol Problems

California Alliance for Retired Americans

California Hispanic Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Center for Living and Learning

Church of the Resurrection

County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators’ Association of California

Crescenta Valley Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition

Cri-Help

David H. Jernigan, Ph.D. Director Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth

Day One Pasadena

Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick

Ernest P. Noble, Ph.D., M.D. Director of the UCLA Alcohol Research Center 

Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H Director & Health Officer County of Los Angeles Public Health

Jerry L. Grenard, Ph.D. School of Community and Global Health Claremont Graduate University

Jeremy T. Goldbach, Ph.D., LMSW USC School of Social Work

Kurtwood Smith, actor

Monsignor John Moretta

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence East San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys

Public Citizen

Resurrection Church Neighborhood Watch – Los Angeles

San Fernando Valley Partnership

Venice Neighborhood Council

Wesley L. Ford, M.A., M.P.H. Director Substance Abuse Prevention and Control

For More Information go to: www.AlcoholJustice.org and www.NoAlcoholAds.org

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