The growing number of newspaper vending boxes at Queens Blvd and 71 Av (south side) now stands at an astounding 17, and take up nearly a quarter length of the block. The boxes are eyesores and restrict the flow of pedestrian traffic. DOT advises that there is no limit to the number of boxes that may occupy a sidewalk. This is absurd and unacceptable.
This particular location sits at a major transit hub that includes a busy taxi stand. The boxes hinder commercial, pedestrian, and emergency traffic. There is an obvious need for legislation to change where and how many boxes may be placed on a sidewalk. I am urging you, as my City Council Representative, to consider addressing this long-overlooked problem . Our sidewalks have become obstacle courses for thousands of pedestrians just in Forest Hills alone.
We are always looking for more pedestrian space in our city but we need not look any further than the space that should be available to us but is unfortunately being taken up by ever-multiplying newspaper boxes and the like.
Please see the attached photo taken 12/29/14.
I hope you will see the obvious, that this issue has gotten out of control and something needs to be done about it.
Thanks again for your time and attention.
Happy New Year!
- Steven
So, how does one tell whether or not a permit was obtained for this?
16 comments:
Perhaps a lil neighborhood vigilantism is in order here, like w the "clothing donstion bins" and the " We buy_____ for cash" signs.If the contents of enough of the boxes mysteriously " disappear"...
Permits? It's nyc don't you know that there is no such thing as a permit here?
I hate these newspaper people who try to hand their crappy newspapers off to me as I am getting off the subway. I especially don't read the epoch times which I believe is owned by the chinese government.
Disgrace! And in such a nice neighborhood.
Notice that there are two Village Voice boxes. They make great coffee cup receptacles.
If Koslowitz cannot legislate a solution because of the First Amendment, her staff could write letters to each newspaper urging it to reduce the clutter.
Publicize the letters with a press conference to embarrass the newspapers. Start a letter writing campaign. Enlist local civic groups such as the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce.
But unfortunately, Koslowitz is not Tony Avella. She is not as outspoken. She does her job quietly and gets reelected comfortably. Koslowitz could be more forceful, but she needs our encouragement to do it.
Does anyone actually maintain these boxes? They frequently are filled with garbage, covered in stickers and graffiti, and in poor condition. It doesn't behoove the papers to advertise their brands this way.
Koslowitz was one of the Council members who participated in the "die in" protest against the police.
I especially don't read the epoch times which I believe is owned by the chinese government.
On the contrary - I believe the Epoch Times is published by Falun Gong and is therefore highly critical of the Communist Chinese government. (And I've followed some links in Google News that have taken me to their website, so they cover more than just Asian news.)
Koslowitz the klutter brained don't give a squat. As for Forest Hills...you think it's still such a nice nabe? Maybe a new eyewear prescription is needed.
Huh? does anyone actually take newspapers from these boxes? I find that they are garbage receptacles.
I would have thought this was under the jurisdiction of DOT, similar to revocable consent, but it is actually codified in the NYC Administrative Code Title 19 Section 19-128.1 "Newsracks". They're handled through the Borough Commissioner's office. Who knew?
Link:
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$ADC19-128.1$$@TXADC019-128.1+&LIST=LAW+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=20988417+&TARGET=VIEW
I would have thought this was under the jurisdiction of DOT, similar to revocable consent, but it is actually codified in the NYC Administrative Code Title 19 Section 19-128.1 "Newsracks". They're handled through the Borough Commissioner's office. Who knew?
FYI, the Code is referring to the DOT Commissioner:
§ 19-101 Definitions. Whenever used in this title:
a. "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of transportation.
Koslowitz was at the die in and applauding and nodding while Viverito was chanting "I can't breathe". These two bimbos should be working in a bakery somewhere, not masquerading as leaders in NYC.
As far as the news boxes on QB, Koslowitz won't have a clue what you're talking about. She never even ventures towards that side of Austin Street. She's a disgrace.
Uh have none of you been teenagers in the Queens? The idiot kids I knew growing up would be exactly the type to drag one of these per day over until it became a joke
neighborhood vigilantism? these things are legal and the companies are fined if they're in the wrong place.
freedom can be ugly (think protests) but it beats the alternative. the local press varies a lot in quality but we're certainly better off having it.
and yes, the papers are taken by readers.
Half of those boxes are empty or filled with trash. The owners only maintain them when a complaint is filed.
No, they clean them out and fill them with papers at least once a week, when the new ones come out, sometimes more often. Don't forget they have to pay the people who drive all over queens to do this; it can't be do e every day. These are small companies with limited cash.
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