Boxes everywhere!

Dear Karen (Koslowitz),

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?

Things that make this city ugly

From Lost City:

There are many things that diminish the great beauty of New York. But some do more than their fair share. Here are a few, in no particular order.

Crapitecture.
All Banks.
Plastic newsboxes.
Cemusa.

The list goes on, but I have a few contributions:

Bloomberg.
Quinn.
City Council.
Community Boards.
Board of Standards and Appeals.
Lobbyists.
Tweeding.
Etc...

City refuses to clean its own property

"After calling 311 to have graffiti removed from various street lamps, it was stated that currently there is no contract to remove any graffiti from street lamps by the DOT. Inquiring further, I was told that the City of New York will not remove the graffiti since the property falls under DOT. If I try and remove the graffiti myself, it is considered private property and against the law.

It makes absolutely no sense that:

1) DOT is not responsible for their own property (because it is not stipulated under contract guidelines)

2) That the City of New York will not get involved in graffiti cleanup because the property falls under DOT

3) That citizens themselves are not allowed to remove it without breaking the law.

On July 12, 2004, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed Local Law 36 amending the requirements for newsracks (Section 19-128.1 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York). This legislation amends Local Law 23 of 2002, which established a framework to allow the Department of Transportation (DOT) to regulate the maintenance and placement of newsracks throughout the City, while permitting the use of public space for the dissemination of written material.

Why is it that graffiti on a newsrack is more important then the overall appearance of street lamps?" - Neighborhood Cleanup Initiative

Photo by SReed99342 on Flickr