Photo by Brooks Of Sheffield on Lost City
You may have seen this on Lost City, the wonderful site written by fellow neighborhood blogger Brooks of Sheffield, but just in case... Brooks found the sign above hanging from the fence at Public School 29 on Henry Street in Cobble Hill yesterday and was rightfully indignant.
WTF?!!I don't care if Lucy Perry is the proud parent of three P.S. 29 graduates. How does that give her the right to use a public school as a billboard to advertise her overpriced, rent-inflated, corporate real estate broker services? What, did she kick a bunch of cash the school's way in exchange for the plug (which is attached to the fence by four tough plastic ties)? I have a business, too. Can I advertise my services and phone number just because my kid goes to P.S. 29?
I couldn't agree with Brooks more. Lucy Perry is obviously shameless. If PS 29 allowed her to hawk her services on their fence in exchange for money, the school is even more so .
What's next, billboards in the school yard?
***Update***
I received an email clarifying this matter from PS 29 PTA Co-President Lisa Trollbäck and spoke to her about the incident.
She agreed to let me add her email to this post. To be fair, I felt that it was important to have everyone hear directly from the PTA.
Here is what Lisa wrote to me:
Hi Katia,I just wanted to touch base to clarify the Corcoran realtor's banner.Lucy Perry had been directly asked by me whether she/Corcoran might be interested in sponsoring the PS 29 Annual Block Party. (As you know, PTAs across the city increasingly rely on event sponsorship, donations, and fundraising of many types to keep essential school programs going in these tough economic times.) Unfortunately, a PTA volunteer, without Lucy's (or the school administration's) knowledge, moved the banner to the fence in front of the school on Wednesday, as we were having a small jazz benefit concert in our auditorium that evening. This decision was evidently based only on gratefulness to Lucy for helping us out in a last-minute pinch for the Block Party, as well as for her years of extraordinary service. (The Block Party is an event that we take pains to keep affordable for all of our families, with $1 tickets for activities, etc.) The banner was up on the fence for less than a full afternoon, as it was instantly removed once Lucy learned it was there.I do feel heartsick that the Perry family is now leaving the school after 11 years with this as the takeaway moment — with her generosity causing her public embarrassment and professional damage. (It's now on Curbed, etc.) Lucy was on the PTA Board for 3 years, co-chaired the annual book fair for 5 years, produced the annual jazz and rock concert fundraisers for 6 years. She has been a class parent almost every year. She has volunteered at just about every school event. She has given generously in every way possible. Her event sponsorship was the first time in all 11 years that she attached herself as a 'corporate' sponsor, and it truly was only her way of thanking the school. The signage placement, and timing thereof, was absolutely not her request, choice or decision. It is also quite possible that, beyond this unjustified negative impact, the press and blog commentary about the banner will dissuade local businesses and individuals from giving to this or other public schools. The 2010-2011 budget cut at PS 29 is six figures, and — as for all other public schools — comes on the heels of several other cuts in the last two years. There is just not much else to cut. As it is, the PTA pays for many, many things, and is therefore integral to the school and neighborhood continuing to thrive... but we are truly dancing as fast as we can. It was perhaps only inevitable that a slip-up like with the signage would happen, due to the level of stress on parent volunteers to keep it all going for our children. Some of us are simply pretty exhausted at this juncture in the school year.I just wanted to let you know the full background. It goes without saying that we greatly appreciate your ongoing support for the school and your vigilant eye on the neighborhood at large!All the best,Lisa
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8 comments:
Ouch! When my kid was at 29, just a few years ago, there was a clear policy that only school information could go on the fence. Any advertising, whether from a parent or a local business, was promptly taken down. I wonder if there is a new policy that says signs are ok when a sufficiently "appropriate" donation is made. If so, I hope it was a REALLY big one! I take this as a bad sign of things to come.
Lucy Perry did not hang the sign.
Nor did she request that it be hung there. She made a donation to support an event. If you doubt this to be true, please verify this with the school or PTA representatives.
Please update or amend your post and issue an apology to Lucy. To do otherwise would be an injustice and would serve to discourage others in our community from giving their support.
As I assume you intend your blog to support our community, please verify before you vilify a neighbor and fellow supporter of the community's finest resource - its schools.
Dear Blair
As someone who has posted many PS 29 events absolutely free on my web site in order to support one of our local scools, I maintain that it is tasteless to hang advertisement on a public school fence because someone donated money for an event.
What about all the other parents or members of the community who have donated money to PS 29.
Do they get to advertise their services as well?
The school and/or the PTA are using very questionable motives in this matter.
And if I were the realtor, I would have said thanks but no thanks to the advertisement.
This school let real estate/developemnt kingpin Bloomberg hold a press conference on its grounds a few weeks ago also...but otherwise it is a really great school, they hustle for everything they have.
You are all missing the point. Yes, corporations and community people make donations to PS 29, so the school can continue to educate our kids. However it is a school not a venue to advertise your product or company. The children in the school do not care who gives to the school and the corporation that give should do so whithout any thought of getting any advertising space
Exactly, Anon #2. I applaud Lucy Perry if she donated money to the school. I do not applaud the idea that she deserves or asked for anything in return.
Take a look at the sign. It would cost too much for Corcoran to have produced just one. Wonder how many of these are scattered around the tri-state area with other proud parents' names listed. Looks like an orchestrated campaign. When my kids were in school my business gave a lot of money and in-kind and I never would have done something like this. Crosses a line. My profit margin was way below real estate's btw. Does PS 29 and/or the school district have a clearly defined policy? If this is done for one business it should be done for the rest. Opens a can of worms.
What is the disclosure policy for donations? Public schools/Public disclosure. Transparency at its finest. Maybe its just because I am tired of Barbara Corcoran's voice on the tv. She has a good publicist, because owns NY NBC. Good for her. You go girl.
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