A quick question: Should the city of Bend sponsor movie nights?

The quick answer: No way. The city has enough to do and has a hard enough time paying for its vital services — roads, public safety, water and sewer.

But what if the movie is about an important community and national issue? What if the movie is a powerful documentary about gender stereotypes?

The answer still should be no.

Councilor Barb Campbell has asked the Council to discuss city sponsorship of a showing of the documentary “Miss Representation” at the Tower Theatre.

The film’s message is “the media is selling young people the idea that girls’ and women’s value lies in their youth, beauty, and sexuality and not in their capacity as leaders. Boys learn that their success is tied to dominance, power and aggression. We must value people as whole human beings, not gendered stereotypes.”

The total cost for putting on the show would seem to be at least $2,500. Renting out the Tower costs about $2,000 plus some additional hourly fees for Tower staff, according to the Tower’s website.

Rights to show the documentary in a community is $500, according to the film’s website. The city could also make a contribution, rather than paying for the whole thing.

But there are other relatively simple ways for many people to view the film. It is available on Netflix. The Deschutes Public Library system has a DVD available for loan.

If the city is going to get into sponsoring movie nights, things could get pretty silly with councilors debating the relative merits of the public policy messages of “Dr. Strangelove” (water fluoridation), “The Hangover” (drug use), “Office Space” (workplace success) and “The Princess Bride” (Never get involved in a land war in Asia).

Councilors should keep their focus on the city’s chief responsibilities and not dabble in the movie business.