Boneheaded in Boston

Nick Gillespie | February 5, 2007

So Cartoon Network parent company Turner Broadcasting has agreed to "to pay $2 million compensation and apologize for their advertising campaign that caused a widespread terrorism scare" in Boston.

As part of the settlement, $1 million will be used to reimburse the agencies and $1 million will be used to fund homeland security and other programs. Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc., and Interference Inc. also will issue a public statement accepting full responsibility and apologizing for the incident.

"Last week's events caused a major disruption in the greater Boston area on many levels - crippling public transportation, causing serious traffic problems, negatively affecting local businesses and perhaps most significantly, costing Boston and surrounding communities thousands of dollars," [Attorney General Martha] Coakley said.

Whatever else this story is about, this much seems clear: Boston can no longer be taken seriously as a city. It alone--out of a total of 10 cities subjected to the same ad campaign--spazzed out like this.

Full details on the shakedown here.

David Weigel on "the Boston Two" here.