The Truth About The Detroit Project

Many of you may have recently heard some alarming things about The Detroit Project based on a recent gossip column in the NY Post. We just wanted to take a moment and set the record straight - please read the letter below written to the Editor of the NY Post. Also see the recent article in the Wash. Post.

January 13, 2003

Mr. Col Allan
Editor-in-Chief
New York Post
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8790

RE: January 13, 2003 Page Six column

Dear Mr. Allan,

I am writing to respond to the January 13, 2003 "Page Six" column by Richard Johnson, Paula Froelich, and Chris Wilson, and alert you to the gross misrepresentation of facts. Because the article's foundation and subsequent details are all false, The Detroit Project expects a full correction in the New York Post.

I will highlight the falsehoods paragraph-by-paragraph.

"MANY of the Hollywood celebrities behind the new campaign against gas-guzzling SUVs are hypocrites who consume huge quantities of fossil fuels in their stretch limos, Gulfstream jets and oversized Beverly Hills mansions."

Correction: Three of the four co-founders of The Detroit Project drive hybrid vehicles, and the fourth has ordered a hybrid vehicle and is waiting for it to be delivered.

"TV producer Norman ("All in the Family") Lear, who is spearheading the conservation crusade along with columnist Arianna Huffington, built a garage for 21 cars five years ago which stands 45 feet tall."

Correction: Norman Lear is only one of more than a 1,800 individual contributors to The Detroit Project. He is not "spearheading" the project, he has not been involved in the creative process or strategic decision making of the campaign, nor has he been involved in any of the planning process of the campaign. None of our materials have his name on them.

"Gwyneth Paltrow is appearing in ads for Lear's Environmental Media Association (EMA) accusing SUV owners of supporting terrorism. But some of Paltrow's neighbors find her to be an odd choice for an anti-SUV poster girl."

Correction: The EMA is not at all involved in The Detroit Project ads that began appearing in major media markets last week. Furthermore, Gwyneth Paltrow does not appear in any of the TV spots, and she has had no contact whatsoever with The Detroit Project.

"Chevy Chase and his wife are avid supporters of the EMA, but that doesn't stop them from cruising around Westchester in the luxury of a SUV."

Correction: The EMA has no affiliation with these ads, and therefore Chevy Chase has no affiliation with these ads, or The Detroit Project, and, as we already mentioned, neither does EMA.

As you can see, the article is factually incorrect, and shows a lack of investigation into the facts about The Detroit Project. Had any of the reporters involved requested a press release, interview, or other background materials regarding the Detroit Project, we would have been happy to provide it.

We expect an apology and correction immediately. You have an obligation to do so, as we have already been approached by other media outlets that are using this fabricated article as a foundation for their own stories.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Co-Founders of The Detroit Project

Lawrence Bender
Laurie David
Ariel Emanuel
Arianna Huffington