Editor's note [UPDATED MAY 25, 2008]: Morris Pittle is owner of Two Ton advertising, which developed a branding campaign for the city of El Paso. The city is moving into the next phase for the campaign, and is seeking a company to carry it through. Pittle's company was one of those invited to make a presentation to the city. The following is an e-mail sent by Pittle to a number of El Pasoans Monday -- including to City Council members Susie Byrd and Beto O'Rourke, and to EP Media Group and NPT editors -- followed by an e-mail from Pittle to a number of El Pasoans on Tuesday.
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From: Morris Pittle [mailto:mpittle@twotoncreativity.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:15 AM
Subject: TWO TON NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!
Dearest Friends, Associates and Fellow El Pasoans,
A great task lies before us at Two Ton, and we are coming to you, our most trusted and valued friends to help us conquer this challenge and move forward in our ongoing quest to bring big ideas and generally cool stuff to El Paso.
You see, for the past year, we have had the honor of working with our city government to develop a unified and relevant brand identity to the city of El Paso. Based on all of our feedback, it has been met with great excitement, enthusiasm and approval.
In case you have not seen or heard, El Paso is from now on to be known as the “Capital of the Border” and here are links to the TV spots we produced to prove it:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/econdev/TVSpots/CULTURE_06CVB339.2.mov
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/econdev/TVSpots/OUTDOORS_06CVB339.1.mov
Well, along the way, there were some naysayers who had issue with how our contract came to be:
http://www.americanobserver.org/archives/2007/september/27/pittle.html
http://www.jaimeoperez.com/archives/twotonmorrispittle.html
Well, I am not in prison, and aside from the j-walking ticket I received the other day, I am still in the good graces of the city. But nonetheless, a decision was made to put this particular business out for bid and see what the other kids on the court would do with our ball, and hopefully to clear all of our good names once and for all from the ankle biters who plague the system around here.
Their plan is to use all existing materials, they just want to see what everyone else has to say.
So this Wednesday, we’re all given 30 minutes to present to a panel and plead our case.
Here’s where I need your help.
My plan is to bring as many people who are connected to the Two Ton Universe and anyone who truly believes in El Paso and what that should mean to the entire world
to sit in on the presentation.
While listening, we will all enjoy a ideal El Paso picnic: Chicos Tacos! We will provide as many orders as are needed.
My message to the panel will be clear:
• We are El Paso and we are where it’s going.
• We will always be fresh, relevant and ahead of the curve, not chasing it for a change.
• We will look to be progressive and take advantage of our assets, mainly our culture every chance we get, and we will always embrace the big idea as long as it too is relevant.
If you can come and join us as we make our presentation, the point will hopefully be driven home. Please invite anyone you think understands and agrees with our philosophy and/or would like some Chico’s for lunch on Wednesday.
We are meeting here at Two Ton Headquarters at 11:30. From here, we will take our picnic and walk one block to city hall where we will all arrive together and descend on the large conference room (which I have covertly booked instead of the small conference room everyone else is using.)
The pitch starts precisely at 12:00 noon and will last for 30 minutes. Then there will be a 10 minute question and answer period.
Obviously, the concept depends on a large, diverse number of El Pasoans, but I do need to make a complete pitch, so I would only ask that you make time to stay at least through the presentation.
So please, either respond to this e-mail, or call us at 838-9444 ext. 10 and let us know by the end of the day Tuesday.
One final, humble request:
Another critical part of this plan is the element of surprise. It’s not easy to mobilize a large group of people to do anything here in El Paso without the proverbial grapevine finding out. So please keep this as confidential as possible. Be cautious who you forward this e-mail to as e-mails have a way of wandering into unfriendly computers.
Please note that the panel consists of Kathy Dodson, Victor Venegas, Pat Ablen, Bill Blaziek and Joyce Wilson. So please take care not to send this to them, or if at all possible, near them.
Thank you all for your friendship, confidence and support. Despite the up’s and down’s, I truly love living here and relish the chance to do the kind of work that can hopefully help make a difference. Each of you in your own way have been a part of making that happen.
Please try to come. If for nothing, we’ll eat Chico’s a have a good time.
So in the words of the great Mark Twain,
“A true pioneer takes a lot of arrows in the ass.”
Come join us as we put our asses in the arrows way.
-- Morris
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From: Morris Pittle [mailto:mpittle@twotoncreativity.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:57 PM
Subject: Re: TWO TON NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!
Well, today was an interesting day to be an El Pasoan.
The short of it is the e-mail that you received last night leaked to the city, and when they discovered our plans, I was informed that my presentation was canceled.
So no Chico’s!
And it looks as if Two Ton may relinquish the brand identity for the city due to what they think may be a disqualification resulting from my plan.
Please understand that I was trying to make a point that viral marketing works. Additionally, that guerilla marketing works.
I believe that everyone who I sent this e-mail to understands that we live in a competitive and complex world. Like you, I take my job very seriously and was striving to make a point that if we are to successfully brand El Paso and communicate to the rest of the country what we have to offer, it will have to be the result of progressive and aggressive ideas that as I mentioned, are ahead of the curve and not following after it.
But apparently, El Paso is not ready for this. At least not our city government.
I was informed not only that my presentation was cancelled, but that both Legal and Purchasing were researching whether or not I should be disqualified for inviting certain people into the process.
Please understand that it was specifically stated that this was an informal bid, and there were no specific criteria other then the time and place of the presentations.
Effectively, we have been canceled because we approached the challenge from a different perspective and were going to do something that was unconventional.
This is the legacy of El Paso. So next time the discussion of why it is so hard to get young people, or progressive thinking people to stay in El Paso, or to come back here, remember that this is how unconventional thinking is treated here.
Thank you for reading, and whether or not you were planning on coming, for at least being involved and having been a positive influence on our process.
I guess I owe each of you some Chico’s. So let me know when you’re hungry, and I’m buying.
Gracias,
Morris
Barbara
May 14, 2008
Maybe Mr. Pittle should look into the difference between capital and capitol - unless he's implying money laundering or the like, which might indeed point to El Paso as the “Capital of the Border.” If that campaign had been adopted as he has written it, we'd at least be the laughingstock of the literate world - not exactly the way i'd want my tax dollars spent.
P. Villa
May 14, 2008
Morris has El Paso all wrong. He tries to use the right vocabulary, but the thinking behind it doesn't get our community. "You have no idea" captures it perfectly. It fails our community. Like those protesters yelled after the Asarco permit was illegally granted: El Paso deserves better.
NPT - How about doing a slogan contest? From the ground up? Who needs permission? My vote is: "El Paso Rocks!"
Chris Cummings
May 14, 2008
Pooh Pooh to the "leaker"! Even though I wasn't invited to the Chico's eat-in I can feel the loss of the potential that Two-Ton and Morris could have brought to phase 2 of the branding campaign. Is it possible that the ankle-biters and other ad firms in town began complaining about some perceived preference for Morris? Did city staff lose their political will to simply stand up and acknowledge that two ton has, in regard to branding, been consistently more creative and committed to the project? A project that likely has been more trouble than the contract with the city was worth? Let's just hope that whatever comes of this we are not in store for a mediocre regurgitation of some other "mid-to-large"-sized city's used up branding campaign...though it's likely.
MRW
May 14, 2008
Barbara: I think Morris was right on with "Capital of the Border." Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia, the source of all knowledge today:
"A capital is the area of a country regarded as enjoying primary status; it is almost always the city which physically encompasses the offices and meeting places of the seat of government and fixed by law, but there are a number of exceptions. Alternate terms include capital city and political capital; the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of 'capital'."
El Paso is both the Mother of all Cool on the Border, as well as the buckle of the belt which ties the US to Mexico at the same time it divides us. It is the "capital" in the sense of the primary location, as well as in the sense of having the most assets.
"Capitol" on the other hand denotes a building. I think your criticism is off base. You owe Morris an order of Chicos Tacos.
lisaT
May 14, 2008
Well this ankle biter never heard a word about this meeting. For one thing since it was" informal" I can't see any rules being broken except by the City.
Truthful
May 14, 2008
Cyinicism. Pure and blatant cynicism.
El Pasoans are not like that. This guy must be from Venezuela and he must..... have no idea!
I am the Walrus
May 14, 2008
If you want ideas, the best idea man in El Paso is Reyes Mata from Del Pueblo Press. I spoke to him about this "invitation" for ideas on labeling the city, and he said he wasn't aware of it. It's typical of the government to invite those people they have on a leash. If you want to truly be enlightened about El Paso, drop by Reyes' office, and you'll leave with a genuine sense of pride about living here on the border, and with an authentic sense of what the spirit of El Paso really is.
Jenny
May 14, 2008
Those who "who have no idea" also came up with Capital of the Border to market El Paso. The border is not a positive right now with the killings in Juarez making the national news -- not something that makes many people want to visit a border town. If you're talking about business potential, there might be a positive there but surely there is another "idea" out there that better expresses the positives of our city. And, actually, I can understand why the reviewing committee might have been a little turned off by hosting a crowd of taco eating observers.
Manny
May 15, 2008
Aren't we and haven't we always been the "Sun City" - what's wrong with that?
Billyd
May 15, 2008
I can't say as I blame the city for canceling his presentation. I think it's more important for someone to explain why the business was up for review other than saying the city managers, who he credited for having the vision to fund his original work, all of a sudden became the problem. Sounds like there's more going on than meets the eye and his email string was less about viral marketing and more about please help me save the business.
Ray E. Gilbert, Jr.
May 15, 2008
The City Manager has so messed up this thing that you can not make heads or tails of it. Mr. Pittle doesn't have a legal contract with the City and even if he did, the City has allowed him to receive money he is not legally entitled to. Mr. Pettle is being paid personally by the City about 58 dollars per hour for the year ending May, 2008 and then a smaller amount for the next year but still for 40 hours of work. How can Mr. Pitttle run, control and perform the work for the City and Two Ton at the small time.Why don't you investigate that and the truthfulness of the City Manger and City Attorney on this contract. This contract was never brought to City Council for approval and has never been approved. Besides, how can he walk his dog at 2PM in the afternoon when he is suppose to have a desk at the City and work 40 hours per week. Hey El Paso this is your money that you and others are taxed for. Maybe a Boston Tea Party should be held and the people controlling this sent homne to walk their dog full time.
Ray E. Gilbert, Jr.;
May 15, 2008
Hey, Let us look at this the right way. Morris Pittle has a contract with the City (legal or not) that pays him over 58 dollars an hour for the past year. The contact is for 40 hours per week and continues this coming year and more. Under it he is a full time employee (legal or not) of the City of El Paso. We are even paying social security taxes on him. This contract is with him personally even thought he owns and/or controls Two -Ton. The contact he has was never approved by City Council and no action was taken to even discuss it. The truthfulness of the City Manager and City Attorney is in question here.
What is going on here? This is our money and it is being misspent. May we should have a Boston Tea Party and throw the parties responsible in the Rio Grande. How would you like to have a contract like that and be able to walk your dog around downtown El Paso @ 2PM on a work day. We even pay our share of his Social Security and Health Taxes. Come on El Paso. Lat us do things right. There is nothing you do under the table that you can not do on top of the table as long as it is right and legal. This is not.
avocadoan.com
May 15, 2008
We started a conversation over at http://avocadoan.com/ We officially challenge NPT to come up with a better El Paso Branding than us. Loser buys a round.
Checho
May 15, 2008
Sounds like a huge misunderstanding and a lack of communication. Obviously some people can't work together and time will tell who will suffer the consequences. But at least we have these type of issues in our city today. 10 years ago we were still branding cattle and now there is a movement to get us out of the dark ages. Unity people, that's what we need...Unity.
FlashBack
May 15, 2008
http://newspapertree.com/opinion/284-letter-from-the-editor
lisaT
May 15, 2008
To: avocadoan.com
It's not that difficult to come up with a better campaign then what we have now. Really it's not.
LV
May 15, 2008
How 'bout "El Paso, Sold to the Highest Bidder"
G
May 16, 2008
There's a difference between unconventional and incorrect. Guerilla marketing, huh? More like Magilla Gorilla marketing. Come on, man. Do things the proper way.
Gene Gonzalez
May 17, 2008
I as SO glad that Moris is OUt. He's is now crying because he didn't get that outrageous city contract again.He was way overpaid for NOT MUCH.This guy is so full of himself, he's pathetic He and his boyfriend Dave K need to just go away
Rico Suave
May 18, 2008
Mr. Pittle, how can we let you know when YOU are buying? Seems that there were "Tons" of mistakes made. Hasn't everyone figured out that in El Paso County elections are won and influence rammed down people's throts with TAMALES and BEER. Keep your tacos!
c/s
David K
May 18, 2008
There's some great uninformed responses here! These people fancy themselves PR and Brand experts, but they can not spell simple words. Good luck with your new career!
As for the guy who thinks Morris and I are "boyfriends," You got a problem with that? What, you don't like gay people? Homophobia is the exact same thing as racism. By insinuating that two straight guys are gay in order to try and embarass them is just the kind of backward thinking that has kept El Paso behind. I guess you think women belong in the kitchen and not in the work place as well?
Border Lens
May 19, 2008
Most of the stuff in the commercials wasn't even done or shot by Two Ton or Mr. Pittle.
Robert
May 19, 2008
El Paso's new brand (actually its about a year old now)
"Six Feet Away From Paradise!"
Shawn
May 21, 2008
I can see both sides of this thing. On the one hand I can see that Two Ton is a local firm and that we need to keep things local from time to time. On the other hand, not having a fair process for selecting and evaluating the ad campaign makes this whole thing stink. Whose to say Two Ton had the best ad campaign? Isn't it the people we elected or is it just the City Manager?
I am the Walrus
May 26, 2008
G got it right. He or She stated: "There's a difference between unconventional and incorrect. Guerilla marketing, huh? More like Magilla Gorilla marketing. Come on, man. Do things the proper way."
The point I think G is making is illustrating the same flawed concept of people using terms like "innovative" whenever they try something that is just plain illogical. And when it fails, they claim, as Pittle did, that people "just weren't ready" for their self-proclaimed elevated level of intelligence and sophistication.
Usually when things don't work, it isn't because people "didn't get it" it's because the ideas presented were weak. In this case, it's not that El Paso wasn't "ready" for this labeling debacle, but because they saw through it, as Mr. Gilbert did, and the various levels of dishonesty. It wasn't because El Paso lacks sophistication that they didn't embrace it, it's because El Paso is more sophisticated than what people like Pittle believe.
Too often there is great comfort in trying to convince our community that it lacks the sophistication level to understand a concept; after all, it's much easier to produce a product for a community that believes it is dumb. But general El Pasoans are proving every day that their level of sophistication is outpacing that of the El Paso media's, politician's, and the the elitist establishment ten steps to one....
epexpat
May 26, 2008
The TV spots start out very good, especially the imagery and the music, which is likely to get stuck in people's heads.
However, the voice-over is incredibly bad. Flat, lifeless... and it really drives home how poor the "capital of the border" moniker is. The whole thing just falls to pieces at the end, when it should drive home something that gets just as readily stuck in the viewer's head as the music and images.
Find another voice over guy, and try again with the catch line.