The April 2002 Lawrence Summers Memorial Award* goes to the City of Houston, Texas.

In January, according to the Houston Chronicle, “Over objections that the city is "prostituting" itself, the Houston City Council ... narrowly approved a contract to look into making money by selling the city’s name or allowing corporate sponsorships.”

The Houston Chronicle reports:

“Council members voted 8-7 in favor of the $40,000 contract with the Bonham Group, a sports and marketing company based in Denver. “

“Councilman Gordon Quan pushed for the study, which he hopes will give the city ideas such as selling the right to put corporate names on golf balls at city golf courses or adopting an official soft drink.”

“City officials have suggested ideas as wide ranging as stuffing advertising inserts into city water bills and putting ads on the sides of firetrucks.”

Quan said a study was necessary because “we really don’t know this industry.”

The measure was approved over some strong opposition. “I don't think we should be in the business of prostituting ourselves,” Council member Addie Wiseman said.

According to the Chronicle, Houston Mayor Lee Brown said he will not support renaming public buildings but sees “nothing wrong with exploring alternatives.”

“It has potential for helping,” he added. “It doesn't do any damage.”

Source: Rachel Graves, “City to explore corporate sponsorships,” Houston Chronicle, January 17, 2002.

Thanks to Dick Lavine and Greg LeRoy for directing our attention to this story.