Norfolk City Council and
city officials are tackling what appears to be an epidemic littering the
streets.
City officials are
attempting to stamp out this epidemic while City Council wants to embed new
laws in the city’s charter to prevent this from happening again.
It’s the proliferation of
news racks.
Yes, news racks.
So take heed news rack
owners, for your news racks better be spanking clean, graffiti free and tagged
with your name, address, email and telephone number.
The metal boxes better not
be rusted or corroded.
The plastic or glass of
the boxes better not be broken and they better not have cracks, dents, blemishes
or discoloration.
If not, the city will
impound your news racks for 15 days.
If you don’t show up
within 15 days, the city will destroy or sell your property.
Violation of the law, if
approved, will result in a class 4-misdemeanor charge.
Early reports indicate that irate citizens complained to city
officials about the displays of “public art” and “design” on many of these
racks, mainly on city property.
News rack owners are in
good company.
The section of the city’s
code to be amended comes under the heading of “Offenses –
Miscellaneous.”
Here’s a sampling of other offenses in
this section of the city code.
Sec. 29-18. Profanity, threats, etc., over
telephone.
Sec. 29-19. Automatic delivery of prerecorded
telephone message to public safety services.
Sec. 29-20. Adultery and fornication generally.
Sec. 29-21. Adultery and fornication by persons
forbidden to marry.
Sec. 29-22. Lewd and lascivious cohabitation.
Sec. 29-23. Prostitution generally.
Sec. 29-23.1. Prostitution and immoral acts;
soliciting.
Sec. 29-23.2. Testing of convicted prostitutes for
infections with human immunodeficiency virus.
Sec. 29-24. Bawdy places.
Sec. 29-25. Aiding prostitution or illicit sexual
intercourse.
Sec. 29-54. Peeping toms.
Published by Indie News Network LLC
Decide. McDonald? Or Poston?
Decide. McDonald? Or Poston?
The city doesn't need to equate every old box of news with prostitution. They just need to require a monthly access fee. Don't think of this as a tax. Think of it as a fee for accessing the public right of way.
ReplyDeleteIs this an effort to beautify the city? If so, I can point to several city parks that are overflowing with trash. That might be a logical place to start.
ReplyDeleteCity officials should focus on the basics before wading into potential 1st amendment issues. Theoretically, the courts could view this as a suppression of free speech - depending on how it is enforced. Whatever the case, it's a waste of time and resources.