Ad content on STA board agenda

Coming soon to a bus driving past you: more advertising, including gambling and political pitches. But tobacco, alcohol, firearms and sexually explicit ads will be out if the Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors passes a new advertising policy Thursday.

Two STA committees recommended that tobacco and alcohol advertising be allowed, but STA spokeswoman Molly Myers doesn’t think those products will be accepted by the board.

“The rationale in the transit industry is that so many of our clientele are minors, so the advertising of alcohol and tobacco is kind of counterproductive,” Myers said.

But recommendations from both STA’s Operations and Customer Service Committee and its Citizens Advisory Committee called for allowing tobacco and alcohol ads. The operations committee also said firearms ads should be allowed.

STA board member and Spokane Valley City Councilman Richard Munson said he’s unsure what direction the board will take.

“Personally I’d rather not have alcohol and firearms be there, but what happens if you have a soldier with a gun on his arm and ‘Soldier of One?’ Does that mean we don’t allow it?” Munson asked.

Munson said he also favors prohibiting tobacco advertising.

Spokane City Councilwoman and STA board member Nancy McLaughlin said she has no problem with political advertising, which had originally been included in the list of prohibited subjects because of fears that the public would assume STA was endorsing the candidate or cause.

“Hopefully people know they’re paying for that service,” said McLaughlin of political advertisers.

“Anything pornographic or sexual that is anti-family, we should keep away from,” she said. “I’m more concerned about your Victoria’s Secret ads going around the city. To me that would not be considered good taste.”

McLaughlin also supports banning tobacco and alcohol advertising.

The new policy will apply to all STA vehicles and structures. Advertising is now displayed only on buses, but STA is considering adding vans, paratransit vehicles and bus shelters to the list to increase revenue.