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January 17, 2008
Assemblywoman Millman Fights Flyer Scourge
Assemblywoman Joan Millman continues to be at the forefront of Brooklyn’s anti-unsolicited-flyer movement. On Tuesday the assemblywoman helped push a new bill through the assembly that builds upon legislation passed last summer banning the unsolicited placement of flyers and circulars on owner-occupied buildings containing up to four units, according to a press release sent out by Millman’s office yesterday. The bill will give the city the power to enforce violations on the ban. “This is a problem for many of my constituents,” stated Millman, whose office offers free signs that tell solicitors to bug off with all that wasted paper.
Shoo, Flyers, Don't Bother Me [Brownstoner]
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Comments
sounds to me like this is a problem for the people who give her money. I mean, why only small owner-occupied buildings? Why not rentals or, in my case, a larger apartment building with a foyer full or steps full of this stuff 3x a week? Either this is a nuisance or it isn't.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 10:44 AM
It is so wasteful. It also creates a burdeon on us because we have to seperate the paper and plastic sleeve to properly recycle. I am sure many dont even bother doing that.
I understand these business owners think it is the only feasible way to advertise - But invading my private property with what I essentially view as garbage seems very obnoxious and not conducive to effective advertising.
I wish there was at least an enforceable opt-out.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 10:52 AM
I don 't like having to collect and toss all of the flyers and plastic wrapped circulars that land at my doorstep, and I know they contribute to the litter and pollution of my neighborhood. But come on. This legislation is useless. The people who distribute them in my neighborhood don't speak or read English, and don't even look up from the street long enough to see any kind of signage, and it won't stop them. They are paid to put these things out, and that's what they do.
Is the city going to fine Home Depot, Kohl's, Office Max, Key Food, and all of the large companies whose circulars land on my stoop? Fining the the little guy who makes replacement windows, or the local Chinese restaurant is unfair unless you are going after the big guys.
This is like legislating salt in food, or banning the sale of junk food next to a school. Sounds great on the evening news, but is useless.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at January 17, 2008 10:56 AM
I hate the flyers! I put a sign on my stoop banning flyers about a month ago and it seems to be working for my whole block. Yes, we should let the companies know that produce the flyers that they are unwanted and wasteful.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 11:03 AM
FYI the Boerum Hill Association has some snazzy No Flyers signs. Contact Sue Wolfe, info at http://www.boerumhillbrooklyn.org/bha/. They're also available at Tony's Hardware on Smith.
Posted by: gothamlawyer at January 17, 2008 11:21 AM
The "No Flyers" sign I posted seems to have done little good. I've also phoned the customer relations numbers for companies (like Newsday)that deliver bundles of ads--they take my name and address and promise to stop deliveries, but do not do so.
It especially annoys me that my Lefferts Manor block of single family houses usually gets at least three (and often a dozen) of each piece of advertising, despite prominant signs (originally dating from LMA's fighting blockbusting in the '60s) stating that the houses on the block are one family.
Just yesterday everyone on my block got three massive "Ambassador Yellow Pages" telephone directories--what a waste!
I agree with MM that the "big guys" (who are the worst offenders) should be fined along with (or possibly instead of) the "little guys." THAT would force advertisers to carefully instruct their employees. You don't have to speak English to learn to recognise a sign--particularly if a standardized City-wide "no flyers" sign is designed.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at January 17, 2008 11:25 AM
gothamlawyer,
I've also seen signs by the Park Slope Civic Council. I doubt that these will do much more good than the sign I posted on my own. I think a STANDARDIZED, easily recognised sign is needed--perhaps, until such time as local gov't comes up with something, various neighborhood associations could agree on something and distribute it?
Posted by: Bob Marvin at January 17, 2008 11:35 AM
Go, Assemblywoman Millman!
Unsolicited fliers from grocery store chains and other large companies should be totally banned. You want one, granny, you can pick one up when you walk through the door of the market (where you're probably still paying for your food by writing a paper check--which also should be banned)...
These fliers are the number one source of litter in Brooklyn, and litter genuinely drags down neighborhoods. It's an ineffective, anachronistic form of advertising. And if I happen to be out of town on business when some jackass throws this crap in my front yard, I get a ticket from Sanitation, which is obviously unfair.
Posted by: Rehab at January 17, 2008 12:03 PM
but EVERYONE has to clean these up or they get ticketed .. including larger buildings. Just ban them all or not -- how is adding the layer of "owner-occupied" going to help? Will there be a list given to the guys dumping these?
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 12:18 PM
I like Joan Millman, but this "legislation" is toothless and therefore worthless.
Surely some of the neighborhood organizations can get together to create a standardized sign. It has a fighting chance of being at least somewhat effective. Great idea!
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 12:40 PM
Why will this not extend to larger buildings? I reside in a 16-unit building and we're inundated with this crap. Does Millman not care about consituents who don't live in smaller buildings?
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 2:05 PM
clearly not. and I agree, the city should forbid the big box stores from flyering, if they really want it to stop.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 2:17 PM
Last week I was walking down President to the subway on 4th Ave. and saw a man pick up the bag containing the flyers from his stoop and toss it onto his neighbors property! It was so obnoxious that it was funny, kind of like the What.
Posted by: Brooklynnative at January 17, 2008 3:01 PM
"Last week I was walking down President to the subway on 4th Ave. and saw a man pick up the bag containing the flyers from his stoop and toss it onto his neighbors property!"
Maybe he saw his neighbor do the same thing to him earlier in the day and was getting even.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 3:15 PM
I think we should launch a flyer campaign to protest this deplorable development!
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 3:15 PM
I hate commercial flyers as much as the next person, but this "fowl" legislation looks like a turkey. Any effort to enforce such a measure (banning flyers) will be struck down on First Amendment grounds. I remember when the Republicans were in favor of banning political flyers and posters. They were always against anything that helped insurgent Democrats get an edge in campaigning. Now the established Democrats are supporting these anti-democratic measures. The more things change, the more they remain inane.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 3:31 PM
Freedom of speech as a defense is a bit of a stretch. I would think that the ability to commercially advertize for products or services by trespassing on private property and dropping flyers and leaflets would not be protected on First Amendment grounds.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 4:01 PM
The First Amendment protects the publishing of the flyers not the dumping on private property.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 4:35 PM
I think the formation of a business owners association would be an effective way of dealing with this.
If you want to send out fliers fine - you have to pay dues to a local business association that in turn hires people to dispose of the litter and collect un-wanted flyers in the community they are based.
Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 5:22 PM
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