“The Bus” (Mayor Dickert responses to local business)

Mayor Dickert revealing thru email an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance and showing an offensive threatening attitude of superiority in discussing the new “Bus” logo and branding with the former marketing company “Corporate Images” CEO Alan Bagg.

My advertising agency, Corporate Images, was the incumbent agency that managed marketing efforts for the BUS through six Transit Managers over a period of 30 years—from 1985 to 2015. , Mayor John Dickert and City Administrator Tom Friedel directed Purchasing Agent Katherine Kasper to shop for a new agency. Requests for Proposals were sent to a select set of agencies, and we responded with new ideas and a complete summary of projects we completed for the BUS and other clients. When we were not invited to the interviews, Stanek stated that we should at least be interviewed. That request was denied by administration. According to Stanek, Corporate Images was not included because the City had “already made up their minds.” Replacing my agency with a 30-year track record of successfully promoting the BUS with a Milwaukee agency with no prior experience with Racine and the BUS leads me to wonder what is going on at City Hall.
On Jun 15, 2017, at 2:50 PM, Alan Bagg  wrote:

Dear Council Member,

I am sharing with you a letter I sent yesterday to the Editor of the Journal Times in response to the BUS rebranding story that ran on June 13. Whether or not the JT chooses to publish my letter, I want you to at least be aware of the issues I raise and not be blindsided if residents respond to my suggestion to contact you.My position is simple.  I want to spare the city the black eye that we will live with for years if this BUS rebranding is allowed to be implemented as planned. My hope is that this misguided idea just goes away quietly with your help.I am committed to the city and to a better BUS system for the long-term.  I am willing to help in any way I can.  This letter is an attempt to correct a vexing problem for the City of Racine.

I have also attached some data that indicates ridership (the real problem) can be improved if the right tactics are employed. Unfortunately, the rebranding as announced in the JT article is not one of them.  Sincerely,

Alan Bagg  President/CEO

AB-LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL TIMES

From: “Dickert, John
Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 3:26 PM
To: Alan Bagg
Subject: Re: My concern – BUS rebranding

Allan we have worked with your company for a long time and I am personally offended that every time we choose to try something new we are scolded by local companies who we have paid a lot of money supporting over the years.  If you want to “scold” us for trying something new so be it.  I am not sure how that will make our committees want to hire you in the future.

To do the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.  We have not moved the needle as far as we have by doing things the same over the last eight years.  Sorry you feel this way.

John