At the April 19th SPCC community meeting, Ellen Sollod advocated to let community members know that the mayor’s office is pushing to install 50-80 8 foot tall digital kiosks<https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/09/20/seattle-design-commission-not-on-board-with-sidewalk-ad-kiosk-proposal/> throughout Seattle in advance of FIFA World Cup. FIFA lasts a season- the contract for these mammoth and redundant public cell phones is 20 years. While SPCC has not taken a position, it was assumed that her advocacy would be in the notes following the meeting. Those notes have been slow to appear, and the Seattle City Council will be taking action on it tomorrow; therefore, her message is being shared now.
Please make public comment tomorrow in City Hall Council Chambers<https://seattle.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1305375&GUID=A0D367C1-2D13-402E-9643-257993CD0176> Thursday May 8 at 2 PM<https://seattle.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1305375&GUID=A0D367C1-2D13-402E-9643-257993CD0176>
or submit comments via email<https://www.seattle.gov/council/committees/public-comment#:~:text=You%20can%20email%20all%20nine,gov%20or%20contacting%20them%20individually.> to your city council reps.
Ellen’s full message is below. From: Ellen Sollod
Subject: help needed: Say NO tomorrow, May 8, to digital kiosks: Seattle City Council
Ellen has been fighting this for 2 years. It goes to Council tomorrow and is being rushed through. She is writing to you as a fellow Seattleite to alert you that the Seattle City Council is voting tomorrow at 2 pm on an issue that would harm the quality and safety of Seattle public spaces for 20 years.
The mayor’s office is pushing to install 50-80 8 foot tall digital kiosks<https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/09/20/seattle-design-commission-not-on-board-with-sidewalk-ad-kiosk-proposal/> throughout Seattle in advance of FIFA World Cup. FIFA lasts a season- the contract for these mammoth and redundant public cell phones is 20 years.
These 3′ wide x 8′ tall screens would flash advertisements that would generate ~1m in revenue to the city. The imposition to public space these kiosks produce is far more costly. These kiosks would clutter our sidewalks with flashing digital ads- for 20 years. Our technology becomes redundant in a matter of months. Imagine what these hulking screens would look like in 5 years, let alone 20.
Another major concern is these “free wifi” kiosks also have the potential of being activated for police surveillance.
I learned about this initiative serving as Art Commissioner for the Seattle Design Commission, I’m writing to you as a concerned citizen. There has been little opportunity for general public outreach/discussion/critique for this initiative. I’m deeply worried that everyday Seattleites would not benefit from these kiosks designed for tourists, and mind you- FIFA tourists that don’t have cell phones in 2025.
Please make public comment tomorrow in City Hall Council Chambers<https://seattle.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1305375&GUID=A0D367C1-2D13-402E-9643-257993CD0176> Thursday May 8 at 2 PM<https://seattle.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1305375&GUID=A0D367C1-2D13-402E-9643-257993CD0176>
or submit comments via email<https://www.seattle.gov/council/committees/public-comment#:~:text=You%20can%20email%20all%20nine,gov%20or%20contacting%20them%20individually.> to your city council reps.
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