Tag Archives: Arizona

Strange placement of a billboard in Pilsen

Posted on by Evan
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So I was on a CTA bus last week when I saw a billboard promoting tourism in Arizona. In any other situation I wouldn’t think twice about a billboard promoting tourism. But this particular billboard was at the corner of Ashland and Cermak. The billboard was in Pilsen, a predominately Latino neighborhood that has strong feelings one way or another about immigration. To make matters worse, Arizona has very strict laws regarding illegal immigration.

So I got in touch with someone from the Arizona board of tourism to find out why the billboard was placed in that neighborhood. I spoke with Kiva Couchon, Communications Manager and Public Information Officer.

”According to our agency’s marketing research, Chicago is a top visitor demographic for Arizona. We focus many of our traditional and digital advertising efforts throughout the greater city of Chicago. From Cactus League spring training excitement to the state’s amazing weather and outdoor adventures, Arizona appeals to visitors from Chicago. And that is something that we certainly appreciate!”

Believe it or not the numbers back her up. Outside of California and Texas the most visitors to Arizona come from the state of Illinois. Also, I have seen different version of the Arizona board of tourism billboard by Midway Airport and by the Magnificent Mile.

You could say that either the Arizona board of tourism just didn’t know better or placing that billboard in Pilsen was an aggressive way of spinning damage control. We’ll see.

Evan F. Moore is also a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

 

U.S. Civil Rights Commission to Hold 2012 Briefing on the Civil Rights Impact of State Immigration Laws

Posted on by chic2626
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2011 – The United States Commission on Civil Rights announces that at its monthly business meeting on Nov. 18, 2011, the eight-member Commission unanimously voted to look into the civil rights impact of state-enacted immigration enforcement laws, with a special focus on Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

“I believe that the enactment of these state immigration enforcement laws presents a pressing national civil rights issue that affects immigrants and U.S. citizens alike,” stated Commission Chairman Martin R. Castro. ”I’m proud that my fellow Commissioners joined me in voting unanimously and in bipartisan manner to have the Commission look into this important issue.”

The Commission will analyze whether the state-enacted immigration enforcement laws have adversely affected the civil rights of both naturalized and native-born U.S. citizens and non-citizen immigrants on the basis of color, race, and/or national origin, and whether they cause a denial of equal protection in the administration of justice. In particular, the Commission will examine whether the state-level immigration laws foster discrimination and/or contribute to an increase in hate crimes; cause elevated racial and ethnic profiling; affect students’ rights to public primary and secondary school education; and compromise public safety and community policing.  A briefing will be held in 2012 that will allow the Commission to receive testimony as to the impact that these state-enacted laws have had on local communities.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring federal civil rights enforcement.  Commission meetings and briefings are open to the general public.  The Commission’s website is http://www.usccr.gov.

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