I saw the above front page story on the cover of this week's Ridgewood Times, and I said hmmm, signs are a problem throughout the city, so what can we do about it? Taking them down is one tactic, and reporting them to DSNY is another. But I had another idea: Compile a list of slobby businesses and let the world see just who they should boycott. I started a photo collection of ones I found in my travels, and I ask that you send me shots of the signs in your neighborhood as well and I'll add them to the album.
We can skip the lost/found flyers, the ones about yard sales and charity fundraisers. Let's go after the for-profit people who think city property, like lampposts and tree pits, are there to provide free advertising for them.
Go get 'em! Incidentally, the pink haired chick that runs Ridgewood Market who most likely posted that flyer in your first photo once went on an epic "I am not a hipster" rant (in response to a Yelp review she didn't like) which included the following: "I am on a first name basis with all the local politicians in this neighborhood." I have to wonder which of them told Ms. Entitlement that illegal postering was acceptable.
I didn't complain about the ad, I complained about where they chose to place it. You get better exposure via social media these days, so I don't understand why we are even posting paper anymore.
"... I don't understand why we are even posting paper anymore."
Because many of the habitants of Ridgewood who are old enough to appreciate Presley, Humperdinck and Jones are so brain addled from smokin' angel dust in the 1970's that the synapses from their brain to their hands misfire and they are incapable of utilizing a keyboard not to mention having a singular thought reside in their craniums for over the time it takes to keystroke Humperdinck.
The Cash for Cars "business " is apparently run from overseas. Read about it somewhere a while ago. No reason why NYC can't catch them . They must have a million of these things glued to every other street pole by now. Imagine if this business is related to some terrorist organization. Something for police and FBI to investigate. And fast.
All of these signs, especially, the "cash for cars", "cash for homes" need to end period.
In this day and age, with the internet and social media, these are relics of the past and I doubt that people even pay attention to them or even read any of them, let alone actually contact them, I mean who in their right mind would utilize those services.
Just like most things in this city (the clothing bin situation, garbage, etc.), they ignore shit like this in the beginning and do not enforce laws or change existing ones and then the situation gets completely out of hand like it is now and you have a much bigger problem that if you would have addressed it from the get go.
A little something call PROACTIVE. Something that our leaders know little about.
I'm amazed there is still a Gottscheer Hall in Ridgewood ... I remember playing as a teenager for SC Gjøa against Blau Weiß Gottschee at Metropolitan Oval in the youth division of the Cosmopolitan League ... I'm so glad the field was saved ...
How many people are going to see a randomly posted sign and say, hey that's just what I was looking for? You're going to trust moving services advertised on a light pole? Or a guy that does odd jobs out of his van? I certainly hope not.
Speaking of Bushwick, have you seen the ads for "Bushwick Bark" which is located on Knickerbocker Avenue posted all over Ridgewood? They apparently print them off a home printer, and when it rains, the ink runs all over the place and the flyers look like a complete mess. They think because they are revitalizing Bushwick (gentrifying) that they can post their crap wherever they feel like it. BOYCOTT!
These folks need to realize that people would be a lot more tolerant of their special event flyers if they actually took them down after the date of the event passed. I'm sick of tearing down yard sale signs, blood drive signs, etc from 3 months ago.
A lot of these cash for cars signs are put up in the dead of night, with a bucket truck so they are out of reach, and with a really strong adhesive, so if you do manage to rip them down, a piece of the sign is always left behind. The folks behind these must have a lot of money and be really sleazy.
A lot of these cash for cars signs are put up in the dead of night, with a bucket truck so they are out of reach, and with a really strong adhesive, so if you do manage to rip them down, a piece of the sign is always left behind. The folks behind these must have a lot of money and be really sleazy.
Maybe NYC can add something to its contract with the company that takes care of traffic and street lights to take down those highly-placed signs - since they use a bucket truck and are working "up there" anyway, give them a fee per sign that they remove. And if they can't come off, just a permanent sharpie or black spray paint over the phone number, which destroys the chance of anyone calling them with business.
I love walking around the neighborhood and seeing all the flyers. It's one of my favorite ways to learn about what's going on... get off the computer (which I use enough every day) and see things the old-school way.
If Ridgewood residents really feel that flyers are a huge problem, maybe you could propose your community boards to install large, centralized flyerboards at a few areas throughout the neighborhood. Then people can concentrate them in the most useful areas, and people will know where to look.
People who want to post flyers about "things going on in the neighborhood" may ask for permission from store owners to put them in their windows to post them legally. Stores all over the city already accommodate this. Why would we need public bulletin boards?
What's going on in the neighborhood is that people are trying to make money by advertising for free on public property. These aren't announcements for girl scout bake sales.
"A lot of these cash for cars signs are put up in the dead of night, with a bucket truck so they are out of reach, and with a really strong adhesive, so if you do manage to rip them down, a piece of the sign is always left behind. The folks behind these must have a lot of money and be really sleazy."
That glue they use - some kind of extra strong rubbery black stuff that looks lie tar - really holds the signs on tight. (Anyone know what it is?) Don't "tear them [the signs] down". Remove them with a box cutter. That's what I do: slit, slit, slit and zip, zip, zip down it comes. Much easier and much neater.
Amen to whoever wrote about the "pink haired chick" from Ridgewood Market for saying what most of us here in Ridgewood are thinking. So fed up with her territorial antics. Go on her Facebook page, she even dubbed herself "Miss Ridgewood". She's a hipster from Texas bent on making Ridgewood her pet project and relishes in what she calls her local "micro fame" w people on the M train (get a life!) We saw her epic "not a hipster" rant (she is) after the Yelp review she disagreed with. Do you know she rallied her minions to getbthe poor guy's review hidden on Yelp and censored? Unbelievable! She's trashing our 'hood in these awful flyers and even lamer events, anything to get her name and her brand out there under the guise of "promoting life in the 11385". Nothing but selfish self promotion and greed disguised as community service. Last I checked, Ridgewood didn't need her to elevate or promote us. Sorry "Miss Ridgewood" she is not!
^ I think she means well, but would agree does display a self-promotional tone and and doesn't separate her personal identity from her projects, and yes seems to enjoy the attention/"micro fame". And certain folks in the area do love it and do support it because a constant social media barrage brings attention to certain businesses that she focuses on promoting as well as, as an externality, generating more press buzz for the real estate/property owning interests (local politicos and their constituents can often be included among those ranks, true).
And there is something to be said for treading lightly, especially as an outside transplant, and considering larger implications and whose agenda/voices are ultimately being amplified or ignored. It can all be divisive and folks seem to have strong opinions, especially when something as deep and personal as "neighborhood identity" (and how it is represented to the outside world as well) is at stake.
Not sure she is a "hipster" as doesn't seem very "hip" but if using that term in the broad "under 40 middle to upper middle class people not native to a neighborhood and possibly somewhat interested in arts/crafts/etc," sure.
In her defense, unlike most of the gentrifiers in neighborhoods like Bushwick or BedStuy, she does seem to make an attempt to draw a broader range of ages and ethnicities into her events/projects (i.e. advertising in Polish) and frankly the tone of them don't seem particularly opaque or pretentious, but more mainstream entertainment sorts of things like craft markets or variety shows.
It is probably best to get off the internet and just not follow those sites and ignore it, rather than rant to Crappy, if it is so irritating, though.
We are probably getting off topic of illegal posters at this point...
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27 comments:
Go get 'em! Incidentally, the pink haired chick that runs Ridgewood Market who most likely posted that flyer in your first photo once went on an epic "I am not a hipster" rant (in response to a Yelp review she didn't like) which included the following: "I am on a first name basis with all the local politicians in this neighborhood." I have to wonder which of them told Ms. Entitlement that illegal postering was acceptable.
You have to wonder who sees a service being offered on a flyer and says, that sounds like a reputable business, I won't get ripped off.
Lots of suckers out there.
Those moving companies are out of control with the flyers.
How could you ever complain about an ad for a Greg Peters appearance as Elvis and Engleburt?
Go to the Paradise and experience this incredible event. A highlight of the Fall social season in Ridgewood.
I didn't complain about the ad, I complained about where they chose to place it. You get better exposure via social media these days, so I don't understand why we are even posting paper anymore.
"... I don't understand why we are even posting paper anymore."
Because many of the habitants of Ridgewood who are old enough to appreciate Presley, Humperdinck and Jones are so brain addled from smokin' angel dust in the 1970's that the synapses from their brain to their hands misfire and they are incapable of utilizing a keyboard not to mention having a singular thought reside in their craniums for over the time it takes to keystroke Humperdinck.
The Cash for Cars "business " is apparently run from overseas. Read about it somewhere a while ago. No reason why NYC can't catch them . They must have a million of these things glued to every other street pole by now. Imagine if this business is related to some terrorist organization. Something for police and FBI to investigate. And fast.
All of these signs, especially, the "cash for cars", "cash for homes" need to end period.
In this day and age, with the internet and social media, these are relics of the past and I doubt that people even pay attention to them or even read any of them, let alone actually contact them, I mean who in their right mind would utilize those services.
Just like most things in this city (the clothing bin situation, garbage, etc.), they ignore shit like this in the beginning and do not enforce laws or change existing ones and then the situation gets completely out of hand like it is now and you have a much bigger problem that if you would have addressed it from the get go.
A little something call PROACTIVE. Something that our leaders know little about.
Thanks for the link.
People, print ads are still a superior way to generate local sales, even in hip NY. The age of ink is not yet over.
I'm amazed there is still a Gottscheer Hall in Ridgewood ... I remember playing as a teenager for SC Gjøa against Blau Weiß Gottschee at Metropolitan Oval in the youth division of the Cosmopolitan League ... I'm so glad the field was saved ...
How many people are going to see a randomly posted sign and say, hey that's just what I was looking for? You're going to trust moving services advertised on a light pole? Or a guy that does odd jobs out of his van? I certainly hope not.
Speaking of Bushwick, have you seen the ads for "Bushwick Bark" which is located on Knickerbocker Avenue posted all over Ridgewood? They apparently print them off a home printer, and when it rains, the ink runs all over the place and the flyers look like a complete mess. They think because they are revitalizing Bushwick (gentrifying) that they can post their crap wherever they feel like it. BOYCOTT!
These folks need to realize that people would be a lot more tolerant of their special event flyers if they actually took them down after the date of the event passed. I'm sick of tearing down yard sale signs, blood drive signs, etc from 3 months ago.
A lot of these cash for cars signs are put up in the dead of night, with a bucket truck so they are out of reach, and with a really strong adhesive, so if you do manage to rip them down, a piece of the sign is always left behind. The folks behind these must have a lot of money and be really sleazy.
A lot of these cash for cars signs are put up in the dead of night, with a bucket truck so they are out of reach, and with a really strong adhesive, so if you do manage to rip them down, a piece of the sign is always left behind. The folks behind these must have a lot of money and be really sleazy.
Maybe NYC can add something to its contract with the company that takes care of traffic and street lights to take down those highly-placed signs - since they use a bucket truck and are working "up there" anyway, give them a fee per sign that they remove. And if they can't come off, just a permanent sharpie or black spray paint over the phone number, which destroys the chance of anyone calling them with business.
I love walking around the neighborhood and seeing all the flyers. It's one of my favorite ways to learn about what's going on... get off the computer (which I use enough every day) and see things the old-school way.
If Ridgewood residents really feel that flyers are a huge problem, maybe you could propose your community boards to install large, centralized flyerboards at a few areas throughout the neighborhood. Then people can concentrate them in the most useful areas, and people will know where to look.
People who want to post flyers about "things going on in the neighborhood" may ask for permission from store owners to put them in their windows to post them legally. Stores all over the city already accommodate this. Why would we need public bulletin boards?
What's going on in the neighborhood is that people are trying to make money by advertising for free on public property. These aren't announcements for girl scout bake sales.
"A lot of these cash for cars signs are put up in the dead of night, with a bucket truck so they are out of reach, and with a really strong adhesive, so if you do manage to rip them down, a piece of the sign is always left behind. The folks behind these must have a lot of money and be really sleazy."
That glue they use - some kind of extra strong rubbery black stuff that looks lie tar - really holds the signs on tight. (Anyone know what it is?) Don't "tear them [the signs] down". Remove them with a box cutter. That's what I do: slit, slit, slit and zip, zip, zip down it comes. Much easier and much neater.
we have "Cash for Cars" signs allover the friggin' place in Flushing and Whitestone! Please START ticketing these creeps to death - PLEEEEESSSE!
Amen to whoever wrote about the "pink haired chick" from Ridgewood Market for saying what most of us here in Ridgewood are thinking. So fed up with her territorial antics. Go on her Facebook page, she even dubbed herself "Miss Ridgewood". She's a hipster from Texas bent on making Ridgewood her pet project and relishes in what she calls her local "micro fame" w people on the M train (get a life!) We saw her epic "not a hipster" rant (she is) after the Yelp review she disagreed with. Do you know she rallied her minions to getbthe poor guy's review hidden on Yelp and censored? Unbelievable! She's trashing our 'hood in these awful flyers and even lamer events, anything to get her name and her brand out there under the guise of "promoting life in the 11385". Nothing but selfish self promotion and greed disguised as community service. Last I checked, Ridgewood didn't need her to elevate or promote us. Sorry "Miss Ridgewood" she is not!
Noticed that the Yelp review she wanted censored is back. So she wasn't even effective at that!
^ I think she means well, but would agree does display a self-promotional tone and and doesn't separate her personal identity from her projects, and yes seems to enjoy the attention/"micro fame". And certain folks in the area do love it and do support it because a constant social media barrage brings attention to certain businesses that she focuses on promoting as well as, as an externality, generating more press buzz for the real estate/property owning interests (local politicos and their constituents can often be included among those ranks, true).
And there is something to be said for treading lightly, especially as an outside transplant, and considering larger implications and whose agenda/voices are ultimately being amplified or ignored. It can all be divisive and folks seem to have strong opinions, especially when something as deep and personal as "neighborhood identity" (and how it is represented to the outside world as well) is at stake.
Not sure she is a "hipster" as doesn't seem very "hip" but if using that term in the broad "under 40 middle to upper middle class people not native to a neighborhood and possibly somewhat interested in arts/crafts/etc," sure.
In her defense, unlike most of the gentrifiers in neighborhoods like Bushwick or BedStuy, she does seem to make an attempt to draw a broader range of ages and ethnicities into her events/projects (i.e. advertising in Polish) and frankly the tone of them don't seem particularly opaque or pretentious, but more mainstream entertainment sorts of things like craft markets or variety shows.
It is probably best to get off the internet and just not follow those sites and ignore it, rather than rant to Crappy, if it is so irritating, though.
We are probably getting off topic of illegal posters at this point...
Hipsters aren't hip. They're just assholes. Advertising in Polish via an illegal sign still deserves a fine despite whatever her intentions are.
Agreed about fines for the illegal signs (although I think the Polish advertising is just in the Polish newspaper).
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