NYC councilman wants ban on circulars Sun Apr 29, 4:48 PM ET



NEW YORK - You've heard of e-mail spam — now a New York City councilman wants to do something about menu spam, the unwanted menus and circulars that have a way of appearing on city doorsteps and under doors.

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Simcha Felder has introduced legislation that would make it illegal to distribute menus, circulars and fliers to homes and apartment buildings that display a sign indicating promotional materials are unwanted.

Felder's bill calls for a fine of at least $50 for distributors that leave them anyway.

"This drives people out of their minds," said Felder, a Democrat who represents sections of Brooklyn. "You have no control over it. People are livid. If I'm responsible for the cleanliness of my property I should also have the authority to decide whether I receive the junk or not. You shouldn't have to be responsible for cleaning up someone else's garbage."

Felder said the accumulation forces property owners to clean it up or risk getting a summons from the Department of Sanitation, such as the $100 ticket his mother received this year.


As I was reading this I was wondering, is this really such a big deal that we need a city councilman worrying about this when there are so many more imporatant things going on that he could be addressing. Then I got to the last line and realized what got him motivated. If it weren't for the fact that his mother got this ticket he would never waste his time on something like this.

Many New Yorkers, and the majority of those who dwell in Manhattan live in apartment buildings. Ordering food from local establishments to eat in is a long practiced local tradition in NYC. Stores usually place fliers advertising their menus and prices in apartment lobbies or in individual mailboxes. Most New Yorkers seem to like the idea and build up little folders of various take out establishments.

This guy's mother seems to be a slob who simply couldn't be bothered keeping her property clean.

Many New Yorkers, and the majority of those who dwell in Manhattan live in apartment buildings. Ordering food from local establishments to eat in is a long practiced local tradition in NYC. Stores usually place fliers advertising their menus and prices in apartment lobbies or in individual mailboxes. Most New Yorkers seem to like the idea and build up little folders of various take out establishments.

This guy's mother seems to be a slob who simply couldn't be bothered keeping her property clean.

I agree. Granted junk mail does suck.

Tackling big issues is too difficult and creates controversy no matter what they do, so politicians more and more spend their time outlawing things that irritate people, even though people should be more than capable of handling these issues themselves. Pretty soon people will be calling their congressman because their neighbor has too many dandelions on their property.

Oh No!! Don't even get me started on Dandelions !!