This article is a Steemit exclusive!
As local governments around the United States fail to fix badly damaged roads and infrastructure, private individuals and entities are undertaking voluntary efforts in their place.
Anti-Media has previously documented multiple efforts by anarchist groups to fill potholes in Oregon and Indiana, and now, Domino’s Pizza has launched an initiative to repair them in cities throughout the country.
According to the website for the new program, which is an abashed marketing effort:
“Potholes, cracks, and bumps in the road can cause irreversible damage to your pizza during the drive home from Domino’s. We can’t stand by and let your cheese slide to one side, your toppings get un-topped, or your boxes get flipped. So we’re helping to pave in towns across the country to save your good pizza from these bad roads.”
In a press release from the company released Monday, Russell Weiner, the company’s president, said:
“Have you ever hit a pothole and instantly cringed? We know that feeling is heightened when you're bringing home a carryout order from your local Domino's store. We don't want to lose any great-tasting pizza to a pothole, ruining a wonderful meal. Domino's cares too much about its customers and pizza to let that happen.”
Regardless of Domino’s profit-motive, their efforts are already improving roads in cities from California to Texas and Delaware. Though they are not involved in the actual roadwork, the company is providing funding to city governments to ensure quicker, more efficient, and more widespread repairs of roads than the governments are apparently capable of implementing on their own.
In Athens, Georgia, the company says it has contributed to the repair of 150 potholes. In Milford, Delaware, they have helped fix 40.
Domino’s is inviting customers to nominate their town for aid in repairing roads by entering their zip code into the site dedicated to the project.
The company’s effort is part of a growing trend by private organizations to combat problems caused (or neglected) by government. Last week, Country Time, a lemonade company, announced it would pay fines and licensing fees for kids who run up against city governments’ bureaucratic red tape and police shutdowns while engaging in the longstanding childhood pastime of setting up lemonade stands.
Regardless of what one may think of these companies’ business practices — and the quality of their ingredients — their marketing efforts are undoubtedly offering benefits to communities and individuals and are responding to important needs left unmet by flailing governments.
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