Sones de México opened up the night playing to a very diverse crowd gathered to see Lila Downs at the Congress Theater on March 3. Paintings from local artists hung on the walls of the venue. People of all ages, from elders to young children, were present to see the colorful Downs perform to a full house. She sang some old classics while performing songs from her new CD “Pecados y Milagros.”
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.
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