February 2, 2008: Vol. 31, No. 5

The city can now penalize business owners for leaving circulars and menus on the doorsteps of homeowners who explicitly said they don’t want them, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Spitzer on Tuesday.

“We are on our way to dealing with what I consider an absolute mess,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D–Borough Park), one of the fiercest supporters of the state bill that gives New York City the right to write summons. “I’m talking from personal experience.”

The bill has galvanized homeowners tired of finding piles of Kohl’s circulars and restaurant delivery menus scattered on their doorsteps. Now, such homeowners will be able to post signs forbidding such activity. If the distributors disobey, the city will be able to fine them between $250 and $1,000.

“You shouldn’t have to be responsible for cleaning up someone else’s garbage,” said Councilman Simcha Felder (D–Borough Park), declining to use that term to define politicians’ circulars, which are exempt.

Hikind said there was opposition from circular distributors. But Kenny Herman, who runs a circular business, wasn’t upset.

“Doesn’t matter to me,” said Herman. “We have a list of people who don’t want circulars already, and we follow it. This bill doesn’t affect us at all.”

©2008 The Brooklyn Paper