I am waiting to get more information from Public School 58 and from its PTA on two signs that appeared on the fence of the school yard, which runs along Smith Street. The Barclays Nets signs were hung there yesterday and seem to indicate that there was some corporate sponsorship from the bank best known for the highly controversial 'Barclays Center' arena at Atlantic Yards to the school.
The signs puzzled some of the school's parents yesterday afternoon. If Barclays had given anything to the school, they had not heard about it. Neither had one of the school's teachers, with whom I spoke.
I was told by someone in the office that Barclays paid for the new schoolyard. Though the yard has been totally refurbished last summer, most of the funds had been secured by our former Councilman Bill de Blasio before he left that office.
PS 29 secured the same funds at the same time, renovated their schoolyard and as far as I know, have no corporate sponsorship signs on their fence.
I will follow up with the school to get more information, but whatever monies Barclays coughed up shouldn't give the bank the right to turn a schoolyard into a place for advertisement. What's next? McDonald signs?
Its kind of a slippery slope.
I'll follow up with more information and if you are a PS 58 parent, please enlighten us.
***UPDATE***
A PS 58 mother was kind enough to get the scoop on the signs directly from the school's administration.
She writes:
I got the following info in an email from a school employee this afternoon:
Barclays Nets Community Alliance paid for part of our schoolyard renovation through Out 2 Play. I am told the newly hung signs are part of that agreement. I do not know why they were not received for display sooner. The news of Barclay's involvement was mentioned in a school website article last November. I've copied the text below. In addition, there was a public ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th to which the entire community was invited. Representatives of the Barclays Nets Alliance made a presentation at the ceremony.
SELECTED NEWS STORY
November 03, 2010
Renovated School Yard Officially Open!
On November 4 at 10 AM, PS 58 officially opened its newly renovated school yard. A once blank slab of cracked asphalt has been transformed into a true play yard marked with colorful areas for both traditional sports and games and free-form dramatic play.
Thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance. Thanks also to Assistant Principal Perlman, who along with parent Cheri Walsh, were instrumental in writing the grant and collaborating with Out2Play, a non-profit organization that designs and refurbishes playgrounds throughout New York City.
Barclays Nets Community Alliance paid for part of our schoolyard renovation through Out 2 Play. I am told the newly hung signs are part of that agreement. I do not know why they were not received for display sooner. The news of Barclay's involvement was mentioned in a school website article last November. I've copied the text below. In addition, there was a public ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th to which the entire community was invited. Representatives of the Barclays Nets Alliance made a presentation at the ceremony.
SELECTED NEWS STORY
November 03, 2010
Renovated School Yard Officially Open!
On November 4 at 10 AM, PS 58 officially opened its newly renovated school yard. A once blank slab of cracked asphalt has been transformed into a true play yard marked with colorful areas for both traditional sports and games and free-form dramatic play.
Thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance. Thanks also to Assistant Principal Perlman, who along with parent Cheri Walsh, were instrumental in writing the grant and collaborating with Out2Play, a non-profit organization that designs and refurbishes playgrounds throughout New York City.
Thanks for getting us the info.
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12 comments:
hmm, what an odd appearance those signs are. my son is in K there and i go to the PTA mtgs but never heard Barclays mentioned. i'm looking forward to hearing whatever you're able to find out!
It is the partnership between
Out2Play and Barclays Nets Community Alliance to refurbish playgrounds. Check this link here:
http://www.out2play.org/
and then search for the actual school (PS 58) from the list here:
http://www.out2play.org/playgrounds/view
The sign implies there is some type of partnership between Barclay's Center and 58. One would think that if BC was serious about supporting public education they would seek to do so in District 13 and not advertise it. Or maybe renting advertising space is a new DOE revenue stream so they can keep paying inept and overpriced crooked consultants.
Still waiting to hear from PTA and/or the principal at PS 58.
I left a message with both.
Barclays admitted last year that these projects were just a way for them to launder money from Iran, Cuba, and Sudan. Seems odd that a school would want to advertise they are accepting money from a company convicted of assisting three state sponsors of terror. But hey, it's the 21st century I guess.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/16/AR2010081602955.html
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/c14151.htm
i got the following info in an email from a school employee this afternoon:
Barclays Nets Community Alliance paid for part of our schoolyard renovation through Out 2 Play. I am told the newly hung signs are part of that agreement. I do not know why they were not received for display sooner. The news of Barclay's involvement was mentioned in a school website article last November. I've copied the text below. In addition, there was a public ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th to which the entire community was invited. Representatives of the Barclays Nets Alliance made a presentation at the ceremony.
SELECTED NEWS STORY
November 03, 2010
Renovated School Yard Officially Open!
On November 4 at 10 AM, PS 58 officially opened its newly renovated school yard. A once blank slab of cracked asphalt has been transformed into a true play yard marked with colorful areas for both traditional sports and games and free-form dramatic play.
Thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance. Thanks also to Assistant Principal Perlman, who along with parent Cheri Walsh, were instrumental in writing the grant and collaborating with Out2Play, a non-profit organization that designs and refurbishes playgrounds throughout New York City.
Thanks, everyone.
Really appreciate all the information, including the info on Barclays shady dealings in Sudan and Cuba.
Still think that PS 58 should have said no to the signs.
So Barclays makes a tax deductible donation to the non-profit Out2Play and negotiates a free advertising sign as part of the deal?
So how does this sit with the IRS?
Since when do tax deductible contributions to non-profits entitle the givers to kick-backs like free advertising?
This no different than any other sponsorship agreement; the city is looking at doing this for subway stations!
Its not like this is a giant billboard or anything. They donated some money, and they have what looks to be a 2 square foot sign indicating that. Seems like a trade the public school system should take any day of the week.
There are TWO signs up. The NYC subway system already HAS ads posted up. If the school wants to sell advertising on their fence, they should simply do so publicly. How much of a donation did Barclay's make to Out2Play that entitles them to 2 billboards on a school fence (and are they permanent)? Because there may be donors who would donate far more for the same ad space. If MOST of the money to create the playground came from public sources, why does Barclay's get all the credit? Out2Play should get those signs down immediately, because it really reflects poorly on a so-called "non-profit" that forces schools to place permanent "funder" advertising on their public space.
Corporate bribes. I will see that Atlantic yards crap
From my window destroying my view. The cranes rise over the rooftops like the heads of ancient brontosauraus. I wonder if the nets had that program before. Or maybe now they fund playgrounds close to their new location. How thoughtful. Carroll school wasn't exactly a hideous urban tarmac before. Did the school apply or were they courted?
Anyway. At least the kids have a place to sit down now.
Actually, that fence is owned by Gannett transit. Didn't you see the Dr. Zizmore dermatologist placard? Went up last week.
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