San Diego Threatens Gaslamp Quarter Association Contract Over Illegal Marvel Comic-Con Ad
The City of San Diego is threatening to terminate its contract with the Gaslamp Business Association after documents indicated that Executive Director Michael Trimble may have unilaterally approved a $10,000 payment for an unauthorized advertisement during Comic-Con. The dispute centers on an unpermitted Marvel Studios marquee display installed by advertising agency Elevue Inc. in July, which triggered a $160,000 municipal fine for staying up six days despite repeated warnings.
Disputed Contract and Unpermitted Marvel Display
San Diego officials issued the $160,000 penalty to Elevue Inc. after the Avengers movie display went up on the Gaslamp Quarter marquee. The sign stayed in place for six days, accumulating daily fines that started at $10,000 and escalated to $60,000. City officials stated that the contractor ignored multiple warnings before and during the installation, creating a significant safety risk in the public right-of-way. While building wraps have appeared annually during Comic-Con despite being illegal, this particular installation surpassed all previous penalties and exceeded the 11 other citations issued this year, which all remained under $10,000.
Responsibility for maintaining the city-owned sign falls to the Gaslamp Business Association, a nonprofit managing Gaslamp’s Business Improvement District using public funds. In a Sept. 24 letter to Michael Trimble, Chief Housing and Community Development Officer Casey Smith outlined three alleged contract breaches and provided seven pieces of evidence. Among the documents is a bank statement showing a June 30 payment of $10,000 from a company named Big Outdoor. Meeting minutes from earlier that month reveal that the association’s Board of Directors directed Trimble to finalize a contract with Big Outdoor for the Comic-Con activation.
According to the city, accepting this payment would violate conflict of interest laws and breach the municipal code that prompted the $160,000 fine against Elevue Inc. Although Elevue appeared on the city citation, Trimble stated in an email that Big Outdoor handled the design, engineering, installation, and contractors. The city’s letter also asserts that the association, Big Outdoor, and Elevue were warned multiple times between July 7 and 21 that the activation lacked authorization, and that the association unlawfully misrepresented its authority to approve the sign.
Contrasting Accounts and Public Funding Stakes
Michael Trimble strongly disputes all of the city’s claims, stating he never suggested to advertisers that he held the authority to approve the installment. In a Sept. 25 email to Voice of San Diego, Trimble wrote that the agreement explicitly made Big Outdoor responsible for securing all required city and governmental permits and approvals. Public records requests show that advertisers gave a different impression during July conversations with city officials. Director of Economic Development Christina Bibler wrote in a July 22 email that the contractor pointed fingers back at the Gaslamp Business Association, claiming the association stated it had the authority.
GQA strongly disputes the allegations contained in the City’s letter and believes the letter includes significant factual inaccuracies and mischaracterizations,
Trimble wrote in an email, adding that a formal response with underlying agreements is in preparation to correct the record. Neither Big Outdoor nor Elevue Inc. responded to requests for comment prior to publication.
If the allegations are proven true, Casey Smith stated the city has grounds to terminate its contract with the association immediately. That contract grants access to various public funding streams, including small business grants, portions of local business taxes, and public parking revenue. Public funds accounted for $181,000 of the association’s $1.05 million budget during the last fiscal year, while advertising and events generated the remainder. The city gave Trimble a deadline of Oct. 9 to submit a full response.