“Yes for RI" Campaign Run by Massachusetts Firm - Cooler and Warmer Part 2 UPDATED
GoLocalProv News Team
“Yes for RI" Campaign Run by Massachusetts Firm - Cooler and Warmer Part 2 UPDATED
The firm 617MediaGroup has produced ads, videos, websites, public relations and more to push the message in Rhode Island that voters should approve all 7 questions on the ballot on March 2.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST617MediaGroup has created a message for Rhode Island voters — “Help save our small businesses and encourage investment in our community so Rhode Island families can have a future.”
Small businesses in Rhode Island, however, were not used for the media and public relations.
Out of State Firm Being Paid to Tout RI Borrowing
617MediaGroup was founded by Jeff Hall. According to his bio, “Earlier in his career, as a Director of Communications for the largest labor union in America…Jeff has also led teams in the communications departments of ESPN and Entercom, two of the largest media companies on the planet.”
One of the components of the campaign produced by 617MediaGroup and sent to press on Tuesday was a video in their release touting "see the first of the advertisements here" — a video loaded with stock photos. Only a few are from Rhode Island.
And like the infamous "Cooler and Warmer" video produced for Rhode Island's botched 2016 tourism campaign, this video features shots clearly not from Rhode Island.
Hall refused comment on the use of stock imagery in the video released and promoted by his company.
The firm describes itself on its website as "an integrated network of communication professionals, 617MediaGroup has the flexibility and resources to craft custom media solutions to help our clients reach their goals."
Greg Mancini from BuildRI, who is the lead funder of the campaign which to date raised a total of $111,000, said in part in a statement Tuesday night, "Choosing to work with union vendors both locally and nationally means all employees receive living wages and health care in a manner consistent with the values of our coalition." But Mancini refused to answer questions about why a RI union organization would not support small businesses in RI.
Magaziner Heavily Touted
On Tuesday, 617MediaGroup began calling the media, pitching the virtual campaign kickoff event on Wednesday -- headlined by General Treasurer Seth Magaziner and union officials.
Oyinkansola Wumkes who works for the Massachusetts-based group reached out Tuesday morning via email to promote the campaign kickoff, saying "we need yes votes on all 7 bond questions.”
“How Rhode Islanders vote in this special election will make the difference between thousands of families being able to recover after this economic crisis, or not. Major experts from across the state will be weighing in on why we need ‘yes’ votes on all 7 questions,” said Wumkes of Wednesday’s event. “State Treasurer Seth Magaziner is slated to give an intro, then several local industry experts will be weighing in on why we need yes votes on all 7 questions.”
Wumkes followed up with voicemail pitching Wednesday’s event -- and Magaziner's role.
“It will be with Rhode Island State Treasurer Seth Magaziner and other experts across the state and impacted industries, and they will be weighing in on why Rhode Islanders need to vote yes on all 7 bond questions,” she said. “I’m happy to provide other speakers at this event if you’re interested.”
Magaziner's office said Tuesday night when reached the Treasurer had "no comment" on the hiring of an out-of-state firm.
One "Yes for RI" coalition member said he would have prefered to see a Rhode Island business used.
“I wasn’t not aware that a Massachusetts firm was hired to promote the message. We always prefer to use local firms,” said Bob Walsh of the National Education Association of Rhode Island.
Courtney Nicolato with United Way of Rhode Island, another of the coalition members, said she had no comment when reached.
617MediaGroup also boast offices in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA, Miami, FL, Los Angeles, CA, and Brooklyn, NY.
State Filings
The following unions have contributed $111,000 to the campaign so far.
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 51 $10,000
Associated General Contractors $20,000
IBEW Local 99 $10,000
Iron Workers Local 37 $10,000
Painters Local 195 $5,000
Construction Industry of Rhode Island $20,000
Laborers Political Action League $10,000
National Education Assn $5,000
American Council of Engineering Companies $11,000
New England Regional Council of Carpenters $10,000
To date, 617Media has been paid just over $13,300 for their work on the campaign, according to Board of Elections filings made late on Tuesday.
"617MediaGroup is proud to be a union shop affiliated with IUPAT DC 35 Local 391," says the company on its email boilerplate.
Updated 2/17/21 5:32 AM