I have counted on Alan’s strategic advice, counsel and leadership throughout my political career. There is no one better at media communications. His efforts are respected across the political spectrum. I couldn’t ask for a better adviser or friend.
—Lt. Governor Lee Fisher
case studies for selected clients
Legacy Village and TRW, Inc.
When TRW sought to sell a significant portion of its Lyndhurst campus for the development of Legacy Village, it was met with overwhelming citizen opposition, particularly from the immediate neighborhoods surrounding the site. Faced with a well-funded opposition group, TRW turned to Melamed Communications to join its team to provide communications consulting to its rezoning effort.
After the opponents placed a “ward veto” amendment to the city charter on the ballot (which would require the rezoning to be put before the electorate and then be passed by both the general electorate and the ward in which the rezoned property was located) the team faced the challenge of convincing voters that the decision should remain with the city planning commission. To say that the initial polling was discouraging would be an understatement; over 75% of the voters supported the opponent’s amendment. Clearly, the voters wanted to have the final say on rezoning. However, by defining the issue as a question of whether voters thought their neighbors should have more of a say in the future of the community than they did, we successfully overcame the initial deficit.
With the defeat of the charter amendment, the stage was set to wage a campaign to pass the rezoning. Although faced with continued strong opposition – over 50% of the voters said they were strongly opposed to the rezoning – an aggressive image building campaign was implemented to rebuild TRW’s reputation and to show the benefits of the project. The strategy worked and the rezoning issue passed.
TRW retained Melamed Communications following the successful Legacy Village effort for several other crisis communications issues, including the closing of its E. 185th Street plant and its sale.
Legacy Village and TRW, Inc.
When TRW sought to sell a significant portion of its Lyndhurst campus for the development of Legacy Village, it was met with overwhelming citizen opposition, particularly from the immediate neighborhoods surrounding the site. Faced with a well-funded opposition group, TRW turned to Melamed Communications to join its team to provide communications consulting to its rezoning effort.
After the opponents placed a “ward veto” amendment to the city charter on the ballot (which would require the rezoning to be put before the electorate and then be passed by both the general electorate and the ward in which the rezoned property was located) the team faced the challenge of convincing voters that the decision should remain with the city planning commission. To say that the initial polling was discouraging would be an understatement; over 75% of the voters supported the opponent’s amendment. Clearly, the voters wanted to have the final say on rezoning. However, by defining the issue as a question of whether voters thought their neighbors should have more of a say in the future of the community than they did, we successfully overcame the initial deficit.
With the defeat of the charter amendment, the stage was set to wage a campaign to pass the rezoning. Although faced with continued strong opposition – over 50% of the voters said they were strongly opposed to the rezoning – an aggressive image building campaign was implemented to rebuild TRW’s reputation and to show the benefits of the project. The strategy worked and the rezoning issue passed.
TRW retained Melamed Communications following the successful Legacy Village effort for several other crisis communications issues, including the closing of its E. 185th Street plant and its sale.