Keep writing.

thanks for your work on this steve. ? who would issue the citation, the city or the okcpd? 30,000 a year even if 10% were given tickets that would raise 1.5mil … and i would think that that is the fine per sign .. i wonder what VI marketing would think about the city giving them a 500k ticket?

Here’s an email I forwarded to my city councilwoman. I urge you to do the same, and make the same calls:

Councilwoman Salyer,

Recently you may have noticed a number of roadside signs with the number “5320″ on them littering our streets and parks. The signs were placed by the local firm VI Marketing and Branding. The Oklahoma Department of Health has hired the firm to implement a marketing campaign called “5320.”

Tim Berney, President of VI Marketing and Branding, has stated that he sees the signs as “a legitimate form of promotion,” and that the city law on this matter is a “grey area.” He has admitted that his firm is responsible for 3,000 signs for the 5320 campaign, and has stated that
he intends to use this form of “gorilla marketing” in the future for his firm’s other clients, including St. Anthony Hospital, Advanced Academics and the deadCENTER Film Festival.

I am disheartened to hear that a local firm sees our city streets and parks as little more than an advertising tool for Oklahoma state agencies. The firm’s blog indicates that they are “strategy-driven”, stating that “tactics are an execution of your strategy”. I can only assume, from Mr. Berney’s statements to a reporter for The Daily Oklahoman, Steve Lackmeyer, that it is a part of his firm’s strategy to make Oklahoma City a less livable place while enriching himself at
taxpayer’s expense.

This isn’t about a few signs. It’s about a local firm that sees strategic value in breaking the law, takes pride in it, and sells itself to it’s clients as edgy lawbreakers.

I cannot sit by and watch as this firm takes pride in trashing our city in order to promote it’s clients. I hope you’ll help me in changing the strategy of VI Marketing and Branding.

Please contact the Oklahoma Commissioner of Health, Dr. Terry Cline, at (405) 271-5600, and express your hope that the Oklahoma Department of Health will disavow the tactics of VI Marketing and Branding, and urge them to withdraw their state contract with the firm.

In addition, because federal stimulus funds were used for the 5320 campaign, I hope you’ll contact U.S. Rep. James Lankford at (405) 234-9900, and ask their office begin a review of marketing tactics by the Oklahoma Department of Health, and how it affects the citizens of your ward. I will also be contacting Dr. Cline and Rep. Lankford, as well as several clients of VI Marketing and Branding.

Also, if there is a form for a formal complaint to be filed in order to get charges of littering against Mr. Berney, I will be happy to sign that paperwork.

You can learn more about the position VI Marketing and Branding on it’s illegal sign placement at these links:

http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/01/27/good-morning/
http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/01/26/tim-berney-no-regrets/
http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/01/26/we-think-we-are-clever-and-yet/

I appreciate your time. I hope we can change the minds of those who would intentionally harm our public spaces to advance their own strategies.

[name redacted]

Signs, plastered posters, graffiti, etc., give an edge and an energy to a city.

Focusing on “restrictions and rules” as opposed to energy, growth, momentum, is why a place like OKC will never be a big time city.

This approach to running a city comes from the conservative psychology that dominates the town (or at least the citizens in the town). Order, compliance, safety, will always be psychologically preferred by the conservative over disorder and risk. But cities need the energy and creativity that comes from disorder and risk to be interesting places.

Cities and conservatism don’t mix. And you see that here. This is more than a sign issue, it’s a psychology issue. When the blog for the city newspaper spends this much time on an issue like illegal signs, given all of the other things that could be discussed relative to downtown, it’s indicative of the conservative mind at work.

What Tim Berney did wrong was not understanding that alternative marketing doesn’t work in a conventional place. Putting out a lot of signs like he did for this campaign might work in an energetic place, but in the barren fields of OKC downtown, they just don’t fit.

Or maybe I’ll be more paranoid and make this suggestion…when the Department of Health (or anyone else) uses a PR/advertising firm other than the Mayor’s (Ackerman McQueen)then this is what you can expect to get from the city paper.

But this doesn’t sound like The Oklahoma, does it?

Thank you for the info. I am getting in touch with my councilman and asking him to take whatever steps are necessary to fine this firm. Their arrogance set me off.

Rarely do you know the person responsible for putting up the sign. What department can take real action? What is the law? Is there any gray area? As citizens can we pick and dispose of this trash or not?

I agree with Tim’s point, but not his reasons. It has nothing to do with conservatism or liberalism. I’m as conservative as probably anyone in OKC, but I haven’t been thrilled with these blog posts either. I’m completely fine with asking the PR firm why they are putting up signs, and if they are going to clean them up after a time, I can live with some weird signs going up every now and then. However, there is a huge difference between asking bothersome questions and just rudeness. This isn’t NYC, how about we start off with a little civility before we just jump into the you are a criminal lawbreaker line of questioning? The whole “do unto others” thing. If they ignore the questions, then state they ignored the questions. No problem with that.

These people are like any others and will just get defensive when the first shot out of the gate is accusations. Can you get the response you seek with this written/verbal hatchet, sure, but is that also the type of city we want? Any more than having signs stuck in the ground? Seems like just another sign of the internet age…where civility gets shoved out the window in favor of the cold impersonality of an internet comment or blog post.

David, if you live in a neighborhood with an active association, there is a program that can be fairly easily implemented that will authorize you and your neighbors to personally remove illegally-placed signs. Here’s a link to more info and the contact numbers of those in charge:

http://www.okc.gov/news/2009_03/Sign_Sweep_for_Neighbors.html

Tim, that’s the worst pseudonym I’ve ever seen.

Is this how VI Marketing wants to be seen? As referring to it’s target audience rubes and hicks?

Your company has had to change it’s name once already, from Visual Image, because you destroyed your own reputation. How many times do you think people will fall for that?

For a “Marketing and Branding” firm, you guys are lousy at managing your own image.

Pathetic idiots.

just curious, because i honestly don’t know, but what portion of the 30,000 signs/year are election campaign signs?

Tim,

I am going to assume you have traveled to a bunch of “energetic” and vibrant cities. I know I have. And without a doubt, there are legal signs. But then there are drop ever 10 feet yard signs that are virtually non-existent in these cities. There are stiff fines. Now I don’t want to paint as wide of a brush as you did. There are exceptions, but your argument that this is a conservative thing doesn’t hold water for me at all. I have been in far too many “liberal” cities and specifically noted the lack of junk signs. Folks that know me, know that these yard signs are a pet peeve of mine and I do look for them abroad.

All the best.

I’d like you to look at those signs in the dumpster at the top of this post and tell me how many of them strike you as ‘edgy’ or ‘energetic.’ They’re just clutter.

Still confused. Does all of this negative press mean the guerrilla marketing effort is working or not?

I just found out that “If Oklahoma was able to simply match the national average in health status indicators, 5,320 Oklahoma lives would be saved every year.”

I guess it is working for the health department, but seems a risky long-term strategy for PR firms so long as Steve is on the beat…

Perhaps guerrilla marketing sans cheap politico signs is the safest bet.

Tim,

Thank you for injecting this conversation with some reality. Steve’s attack on VI Marketing is a prime example of what is wrong with (some) of the people in this city.

Companies like VI benefit OKC and help to drive innovation and positive change. Steve should be thanking VI for actually making a difference in our community, something that his rantings will never do.

Dirk DiGarmo

He thought it was “personal”? What a hoot.

I think I agree with Tim Evanston. Big time cities have these kind of marketing campaigns or sometimes even more so. The fact that somebody is out cleaning up all the trash….since they are a city/ state/ government employee they are going to be paid anyway. At least this way they are doing something.

Sid:

You may not see these “types” of signs in major cities, but I am guessing that is because major cities cannot support them. Signs like these would get trampled, pulled up by city crews, or there is simply not enough green space to plant them. The signs are easy to use in OKC because there are huge vacant lots less than one mile from the core of downtown.

What you do often see in major cities are anything that isn’t moving–light poles, construction barriers, abandoned buildings, etc.–plastered with signs/posters/flyers. And these signs are a reflection of the different activities, events, and sales pitches going on within that city.

So, I propose we be more encouraging of events and efforts in this town then we are restrictive of movement and activity. We should err on the side of encouraging expression and activity.

Michael:

Right, you see these signs as clutter, which is a conservative take on environmental disorder. And maybe they are cluttersome, but cities are inherently cluttered. Lots of buildings, people, etc. Suburbs, on the other hand, are typically uncluttered and ordered. So clutter is not inherently bad.

There are very good reasons why so many cities, including many in Oklahoma, are adopting sign ordinances. There is nothing attractive or inviting about a city littered with signs, banners, billboards, etc. There is nothing “major league” about trashing up the places where we live.

What does the state health department say about this?

To those who say “the city employees should clean it up” — how about you spend a day shadowing city employees and then decide if you think they have the manpower to clean up a lawbreaker’s mess,

The larger question here is can conservatives (citizens and leaders) build a vibrant (major) city.

VI does NOT represent St. Anthony!! They lost that account years ago.

Exactly, JBrown84. VI was too conventional to come up with an ER waiting list, and apparently they spend the bulk of their time junking up the city. By the way, do you guys have anything open next Tuesday? I feel an embolism coming on and I’d like to schedule some CPR and maybe an emergency brain surgery. Got anything at say… 10:45-ish on the 1st?

using standard political yard signs and coasters for “guerilla marketing” is some weak sauce. get creative.

Noted jbrown. They’re listed as past clients.

Tim Evanston – acceptance of VI Marketing’s campaign as any way good or edgy should not be the litmus test as to whether we can build a vibrant city. By just giving us a cookie-cutter, bad rip-off of guerilla campaigns from other cities, VI isn’t doing anything to make OKC vibrant. The only way we’re going to become vibrant is to be innovative and original. A guerilla marketing campaign like one you’d see in NYC in the early 1990s is not going to do it.

Right on, Josiah. What we need here is a juggling monkey.

Josiah:

The point isn’t the merits of the campaign, it is the larger culture of anti-expression and order above all else in this town. These restrictive, conservative values do not a vibrant city make.

I say we be pro-expression and not freak out every time someone puts a temporary, removable sign (for a health campaign) any place they aren’t supposed to.

We should err on the side of expression and activity because that is exactly what this town needs above all else. What we don’t need is less expression and activity.

So I say this freak-out is ridiculous.

And I propose that the fact that state government is involved (OMG, the Health Department actually tried to get a health message out in an unhealthy state and did it using “signs” that stick in the ground!) and that the marketing company involved is not part of the Gaylord regime, is the real fuel for The Oklahoman’s zeal here.

Everyone else thinks I’m off base here?

Tim, yes, you are off base. Why do you still live here? You’re free to leave and join your liberal buddies in an ‘edgy’ and ‘gritty’ town. Good luck to you.

A prediction: Within one year, VI Marketing and Branding changes it’s name for the FOURTH time, to escape it’s own reputation for being douche bags.

VI: Man up! Admit your mistake, get your people out to clean it up, pay for city effort of the cleanup, write a big check to Oklahoma City Beautiful, and issue a press release that opens with the words “We’re sorry.”

You’re making yourselves look very, very foolish. It’s hard to believe you’re a ‘marketing and branding’ company.

The sad thing is, you’re dragging others down with you. The DoH, the city, and your past and present clients.

How bad will you make it for them before you man up and do the right thing?

Tim – I see where you’re coming from, but I don’t think the general distaste for the VI campaign has anything to do with “restrictive, conservative” values. I mean, as a progressive one could say that the amount of waste associated with these political yard signs is significantly more than posters put up around scaffoldings in NYC or something. Bottom line – this isn’t a matter of values, it’s a matter of taste. Like Side, I do a good amount of traveling, and I’ve never seen a guerilla campaign utilize so much future trash.

Tim,

I actually understand your point. I clearly see where you are coming from and in some ways, I think you are right. But I think the application of your theory is ill placed — in my opinion.

We do tend to give less importance to the human expression as well as the corporate expression. Our zoning laws, our social conservative values, and we could go on. However, when the local apartment complex puts 50 yard signs (no exaggeration) right in front of where you work and play, it doesn’t take a conservative to get offended.

In response to these GROSS, and perhaps disrespectful illustrations of disregard for the quality of life of others, many (including me) have grown more and more fond of making examples of those who are essentially forcing the hand of our local government. How? When everyone does it, it puts the city is a bad spot. Election time is a great example. They can’t in good conscience pick and choose which signs they will pull up and which they will not.

I didn’t mean to make this so long-winded. In summary, VI’s response is probably what most people are upset about. The argument that we actually don’t notice them or care about how it makes our city looks simply because “everyone does it”. In fact, we do.

I am more sorry that any positive effort this campaign might have had may be drowned out by the horrible response from VI. They have tainted the entire campaign.

One last quibble — Steve is human and may have a bias, but I for one NEVER want anyone in the media to apologize for this kind of reporting. It may not seem fair at times but it is VITAL for our society.

Again, sorry for the lengthy reply. Peace.

Sw:

I don’t agree with you and everyone else here so I have no right to live in the community? Thanks for your example of the conservative mind.

Now what was I saying about the impediments to this city being vibrant and diverse?

I for one am glad you live here Tim. We don’t have to agree to be friendly neighbors.

Tim Berney, oops, I mean ‘Evanston’, nobody said you don’t have the right to live here. I’m just pointing out that you’re obviously unhappy living here because there’s simply not enough trash around to make you feel comfortable. Good luck with that.

Am I to understand that a clean city is a conservative issue, and that liberals demand filth and grime, paid for with tax dollars?

Questions:

Sw,

What do you have against Tim Berney? Did he personally post all the “illegal” signs in your yard? Kick your dog? Beat you to the punch of asking the prom queen to the first dance? I’m not sure if this this about the signs or him?

Do you recall the 100′s of thousands of political signs that lined every street in our city just a few short months ago? Do you think Councilwoman Salyer will use the same type signs to help secure her position on the city council later this year? Will you send her a letter demanding they be removed?

Could someone get Sw a cool glass of water?

Wow, cheap plastic signs are edgy and hip, yeah right, sounds like someone thinks Banksy and Shepard Fairey has relocated to OKC.

Sw,

Why don’t you use your full name? And where do you get your information? Looked all over the web to find a single clue as to how Visual Image destroyed their name, so that maybe I could understand your beef with them. Whats the deal? Did you used to work there or something, did they fire you? If not? Where does this information come from? Or are you just making stuff up?

David, you are truly awesome. I had the chance to see a Banksy work in NYC last October. It was great.

VI thinks they are ‘gritty’ for slapping stickers on city property. They ain’t seen nothin. Those were true works of art.

VI are just a bunch of liberal losers living off the government and calling it ‘art’.

NO NAME CALLING PLEASE (STEVE)

Wow..Really?
It’s good to see that this has generated such a passionate response. But can you guys think before you hit the reply button? My kids are somewhat interested in this situation and I am having a hard time explaining to my 12 year old what a “poser d(edit) bag” is. “Pathetic idiots”?
Let’s play fair. Surely you know that when you resort to name calling your entire point becomes invalid. Or should I say you become invalid.

GUYS, I AM VERY SORRY THIS LANGUAGE WAS POSTED. THOSE WHO USED SUCH WORDS ARE ON NOTICE NOT TO DO IT AGAIN. (STEVE)

@Travis Thompson – It’s all in Steve’s reporting of conversations with Tim. Dude, read the posts. Tim admitted his company placed the signs, admitted it was intentional, admitted they did it to be ‘edgy’, and described OKC citizens as rubes because we didn’t ‘get it.’

Steve has reported that state money was used, and that the state got it from federal stimulus dollars.

Steve spoke with DoH, and a representative from Okc, who confirmed all of it.

Your tax dollars are being used to post signs and stickers that your tax dollars will be used to clean up.

Tim Berney and VI Marketing and Branding made over $300,000 of your money in the process.

What’s not to understand?

[Also, I extend my sincere apologies for the previous language.]

Later I’ll describe some of the phone calls to VI’s “clients” today. Seems there’s quite a few people who don’t like Mr. Berney. Turns out four of the five I contacted had dropped them in the past two years. The fifth? We’ll soon see…

Just improved my health removing some ssigns.

“Everyone else thinks I’m off base here?”

Yep

There is a difference between the head of the firm (who has admitted he knows it is illegal and seems proud of it) and candidates that will tell their supporters NOT to post signs in places where they would be in violation of the law. Zealous volunteers are going to place things where they don’t belong. If the City collects the signs, the campaigns are charged for doing so. The same needs to apply in this case. Fine the agency firm responsible and if the state agency that contracted them knew of their illegal tactics, fine them too. After all, wasn’t a hollywood actress fined and had to serve community service for pulling a similar stunt last year?

@Larry OKC – I agree. Jessica Alba apologized. Where is VI Marketing and Branding? They are too busy calling us rubes, and making hundreds of thousands of dollars for doing it.

If the city won’t fine them, I intend to make sure they pay the price in reputation and lost business.

Such is my right as a citizen.

I’ll post my website url and twitter account about this 5320 scam later today. Watch for it.

Follow @5320polluters on Twitter to keep up to date with the 5320 tax scandal, and VI Marketing and Branding’s involvement.

Turns out 5320 is tied to Obamacare – your tax dollars are going to convince you of how wonderful socialized medicine can be. Follow @5320polluters on twitter.

@Sw you’re so over-the-top virulent about this VI issue, i’m beginning to think maybe you’re a commisioned/paid villain in this, and part of the guerila campaign.
the truth now… you work at VI, don’t you?