A Chicken In Every Pothole
Could the answer to Indianapolis’ infrastructure problems lie in a two-piece value meal from KFC?
Maybe.
The Chicago Tribune this Spring reported that KFC has offered the city mayors across the country the chance to fill their potholes for free. In exchange for filling the potholes, the company leaves behind stenciled brand on the patch which reads “Re-Freshed by KFC.”
KFC is testing the program in Louisville, KY, it’s hometown and it hasn’t been completely ruled out here in Indianapolis.
Mike Huber, the Director of Enterprise Development, says the proposal is interesting but the city would definitely need to study the plan.
Personally, I think it’s a good idea. Indianapolis is strapped for cash and we all know how bad the potholes can get in this town. So if a private company is offering to fill the potholes and, pardon the pun, if it’s done tastefully, I say go for it. And why stopt there. If Pepsi wants to sponsor a park, let them. If Motorola wants to sponsor my police radios, let them. And heck, if personal injury attorneys want to advertise inside city-run ambulances, who am I to argue? (Full disclosure, I’ve always wanted to do that one if I ever practiced personal injury law.)
Now granted you run the risk of having your city looking like a giant NASCAR driver uniform, but you also reduce the tax burden by finding outside sources of funding.
Now while you ponder all that, I’m off to KFC. I’ll take a two-piece extra crispy with a diet coke and a pothole filled at 10th and Delaware.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:49 am
A couple of things wrong with two piece “deal” is they put the crappy dark meat in there that no one likes and is less healthy for you. Secondly they probably don’t allow the healthier grilled chicken as a substitute.
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May 19th, 2009 at 7:56 am
and then when they spend millions advertising their new healthy grilled chicken and offer coupons, they run out of it nation wide in a couple of days…..I am not sure they are ready for this……two pothole deal with a choice of sides and a bisquit.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:18 am
I’ll bet they award the contract to lowest bidder. If I were a city manager I wouldn’t touch this with a ten foot pole without review/approval authority over bid packages and contract managment.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Greg P: Speaking of healthy, do you remember the advertising campaign KFC ran a few years back? It was touting KFC chicken as “healthier” than alternative fast food. The commercial showed a mother come into a home, announcing the family was eating healthier and plopped a bag of KFC on the table. The campaign was to stress, I think, a KFC chicken leg and side of green beans was healthier (in some way) than a Big Mac!
May 19th, 2009 at 11:22 am
This reminds me of the proposal that we fund state government by requiring government officials to wear logos of their biggest contributors.
May 19th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Daw-g, nobody likes the dark chicken meat? Are you kidding me? The dark meat has a lot more flavor and is much better than the white chicken meat.
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I think this post was made mostly in jest…I hope, at least. The problem with our government is not a lack of money, but money that is poorly spent. Just giving them more money isn’t going to cure the problem. There is something repulsive too about selling off the naming rights to city assets. Granted I know it’s pretty much just symbolism at this point…our city leaders have had our city for sale a long time.
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Why not just rename Indy “Simon Town” Or “Lillyville” and get it over with?
May 19th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I have an idea. How about we let private companies sponsor non-essential services like football stadiums, the arts and golf courses and we let government tax people to provide essential services like roads, police and fire protection?
May 19th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Paul: You know why that dark meat is so much tastier? It’s full of fat that carries flavors especially chicken thighs! I have several home-made marinades that will make even a skinless chicken breast force you to your knees, thanking God for the flavors!
May 19th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Daw-g…yeah, it’s full of fat. I know that. That’s why dark meat is the best.
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“Marinades?” That sounds like sodium city.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Negative on this Abdul.
The Mayors office has in the works to privatize much of the city services including DPW, Parks and payroll (just to name a few). They are laying the ground floor now, but by the end of the year or early 2010, many city services will be privatized. And you thought Veiola Water Company was bad.