I LOVE New York

           NYC, the City, meet NYC, the Condom

The corporate branding of stadiums and sporting events has become routine. When the Bloomberg administration took office, it applied that corporate mentality to the city itself. To begin with, hats and shirts were emblazoned with the logos of the Police and Fire Departments. Now, taking the concept of branding to a new and quite intimate level, a NYC condom will soon be available.

In a statement released yesterday, the health department said it was "currently developing the first NYC-branded condom, to be released in coming months."

   

   There are some ugly things on the streets of New York. 100+ years of chewing gum. Dog turds in the rain. 50 year old transvestites trying to pull a trick. Snow. But I gotta tell ya, if there's anything that describes the word 'ugly', it is the used condoms in the gutters. And NOW the city wants in on that action. ACK! And who do I have to thank for this slimey little bit o'  knowledge? Why my old freind Moze.

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New York, the City, Meets New York, the Condom

by Marc Santora

The corporate branding of stadiums and sporting events has become routine. When the Bloomberg administration took office, it applied that corporate mentality to the city itself. To begin with, hats and shirts were emblazoned with the logos of the Police and Fire Departments. Now, taking the concept of branding to a new and quite intimate level, a New York City condom will soon be available.

In a statement released yesterday, the health department said it was "currently developing the first NYC-branded condom, to be released in coming months."

Sandra Mullin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, explained that the effort was more about packaging than about branding, providing the department with a better way to measure the effectiveness of its free condom distribution.

"We wanted to develop condom packaging that was noticeable and memorable so that we can later track the effectiveness of our distribution," she said. "We also aim to use the packaging to promote condom use and awareness."

Under the Bloomberg administration, the health department has greatly expanded condom distribution in an effort to reduce sexually transmitted disease such as H.I.V. Last June, the city created the Web-based "Free Condom Initiative" to provide community and social service organizations with condoms.

Since the program was introduced, the city has distributed more than one million condoms a month, according to officials.

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the city's health commissioner, said in yesterday's statement, "A condom can save your life."

Still, some religious groups and social conservatives have long objected to aggressive condom promotion by government agencies, arguing that it promotes promiscuity.

When told about the health department's plan, Michael Long, the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State said, "Isn't it a sad commentary on how the government wastes money?" While health officials stressed that they did not plan to use the condoms to raise funds, Mr. Long said that even if the city did not raise money, it would be promoting a certain lifestyle.

City officials said that a "New York condom" was not a part of the broader branding campaign that has been touted by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg many times since he was elected. For example, the city receives a royalty from the sale of products that legally use the Police and Fire Department logos.

But, in the end, whatever the design of the package for the condom, it would be uniquely identified with the city, although exactly how — whether it would include a logo or an iconic city image — has yet to be determined.

The statement from the health department seemed to catch many City Hall officials off guard.

"This project is in the very early stages of development," said Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman for the mayor.

Despite assurances that the city does not plan to use the condoms to turn a profit, Joy Linn Alegarbes, 26, an employee at the West Village store Condomania, said she thought they would be wildly popular.

"If this is actually going to happen, I think New Yorkers are absolutely going to love it," she said. "Of course, we live in a little liberal haven. But one group I think will really go for it are the tourists."

She said they are asked for condoms with an "I heart New York" logo all the time. "I think the rest of the country would find it cute and kitschy when visiting New York," she said. "But I don't know if they would want them in their local drugstore."    Link

Comments

[Moze]

[to be released in coming months...]

A riper phrase was never writ...

Cheers,

[lori]

"I think the rest of the country would find it cute and kitschy when visiting New York,"
Wow, that will make it a tough decision when picking up souvenirs from your trip to NYC...a condom, or a bumper sticker?!? I know everytime I go to NYC I buy condoms, don't you? This will just make it more fun!

[Phoenix]

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

What is 'mental hygiene'? Is there a mental floss out there I don't know about?

Does one go to a Mental Hygienist if they're thinking dirty thoughts a lot? D'oh.

I was STUNNED by the gum on the sidewalks in Manhattan. I still can't believe it.

[lori]

I just can't stand walking over those huge iron grids that blow out this disgusting urine smell there...forget the gum :-).

I need some of that mental floss, too, Phoenix!

[Phoenix]

Good one, Moze.

I just 'got it'. D'oh.

Hey, Lori,

We could make some mental floss and call it IN ONE EAR-OUT THE OTHER.

That would be way funny considering that phrase is used for people who don't listen. haha. But it's the way the floss would have to work. Straighten out those screwy neurons!

[Mouse]

Me and my lonely mental floss. Yeah, I gotta get me some of that!