Cities 07

We are now experiencing corporate colonialism.
I've already read Zukin, so this little passage may tie into her writing more but, if you look at Davis' writing you'll see that it's not only about fear, but also about a lack in public funding for services that has lead to this change. The municipal police can't do thier job properly, or just don't, and so private comapnies are able to make a mint, with the help of the media off of the fear of ignorant people with money.
Public funding has declined for schools and parks too, which leads to their privitization as well. I'm sure you've all heard of the highschool in which Coca Cola put in their machines and sponsored the footbal team because the school didn't have enough funds. They took a picture of all the students in coca cola t-shirts at one point and a student was suspended for taking off his red Coca Cola t-shirt to reveal a blue Pepsi t-shirt just in time for the aerial photograph. (not much better company but very poignant)
Our own dear school in sponsored by TCF bank and is also a Coca Cola campus, giving the company rights to all soda machines and the soul of whoever agreed to put them in. But what choice did they have when the funding was low and Coca Cola and TCF presented an easy solution? You want a stadium? Here you go, just let us put our name on it. Not unlike the patrons of the past, but now the sponsors want something from us besides our admiration, a place on the board of trustees and free season tickets for life.