UN Lets Gucci Use Global Lawn to Advertise a Luxury Store Opening, While Madonna and Other Celebs Are to Wait in Heated Tents

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1gucci012508.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 25 -- On the North Lawn of the UN's campus, facing the East River, metal frame buildings have this week been going up. Some thought this was the beginning of construction of the temporary General Assembly hall for use during the Capital Master Plan renovation. But inquiry found that these structures are even more transitory, meant for a one-night concert and fundraising on February 6, which is promoted by, and promotes, Gucci. This seeming strange, Inner City Press asked at Friday's noon briefing who approved this use of the UN, if the UN was charging any money for the use of the lawn, particularly given Gucci's advertising-like statement that "the event will celebrate the opening of Gucci's New York 5th Avenue Flagship store in February 2008." Click here for the press release, which also notes the involvement of a slew of celebrities including Madonna. (One wag at the noon briefing blurted out, "child trafficking." Other, playing off the name of Skanska, the UN's Capital Master Plan contractor, muttered "Skank-ska.")

UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said she would look into it, and later replied by email that "the UN decides who may use the lawn or other facilities. The sponsor is asked to pay the UN upfront prior to the event for all cost incurred (Security, Plant & Engineering, Custodial, Event Coordination, Lawn Repair, etc.) In this instance there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the sponsor Gucci and the UN."

The MOU was not provided, and it was said that it is the UN's Office of Legal Affairs which checks on which companies can use UN premises and, presumably, the appropriateness of their public statements about the use, and whether it is in connection with or to celebrate a commercial venture like the opening of a retail store. Ms. Okabe said that any further questions should be directed to the United States Fund for UNICEF's Director of Public Relations, Marissa Buckanoff. Inner City Press immediately telephoned Ms. Buckanoff and left a detailed message, on deadline, seeking comment on the appropriateness of Gucci deeming the event on the UN's North Lawn as celebrating its opening of a store. As of deadline, no response was received. Nor has it yet been confirmed how much each ticket would cost.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1gucci012508.html