Posted on 10/19/2007 6:50:58 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
Even though all the Founding Fathers pretended that they hated the media (which then meant newspapers and tract publishing) each of them had their very own newspaper supporters and nearly all paid for tracts that supported their viewpoints and policies to be published. These tracts and newspapers were usually subscription supported, but sometimes they were freely distributed. Flash forward to today in Chicago. Today, thanks to a law ushered in the back door right under everyone's noses, it is illegal to distribute free newspapers. Were the Founders alive today, Richard Daley, King of Chicago, would prevent them from distributing their political papers to the public. No speech in King Daley's city... not without HIS say-so, anyway.
Of course, like all busy body, cradle to the grave governments, the ordinance in question was ostensibly to do something "good" for us all. You see, Title 10, Chapter 8 of the Municipal Code was supposed to "help" us get rid of litter in this fair windy city.
But, tacked onto the law is a little section that bans the distribution of free publications. This ordinance made it unlawful to distribute free “newspapers, periodicals and directories of any kind on any public way or other public place or on the premise of private property in the city in such a manner that it is reasonably foreseeable that such distribution will cause litter.”
Who needs free speech when we can get rid of "litter," eh?
So, which newspaper will King Daley consider to be "litter," one wonders? And, what if a resident takes delivery of one of these so-called pieces of "litter"? Would they be prosecuted? Are they a party to criminal distribution of "litter"?
Of course, the Aldermen who voted 50 to nothing for this law are scrambling to answer critics of the ordinance. It seems fairly certain that not a one of them even read the thing before they voted, something that isn't unusual in this city. They all claim, of course, that this ordinance would never be used to stop a community newspaper from being distributed.
But just wait for the first incumbent Alderman who decides he doesn't like what a paper has to say about him during an election campaign! Just wait fir the first time King Daley doesn't like what some small paper has to say about his trucking schemes or other criminal enterprises. Watch how quickly a newspaper becomes "litter" then.
And don’t for a second imagine that no city Alderman would employ such a dirty trick. Chicago has a long, black history of electoral hyjinx. From stealing opponent’s political signs to even running candidates with the same name as an opponent in order to split up his vote, the Chicago city council have played just about every illicit game one can think of to get elected.
For their part, the Aldermen are trying to claim that their law was only to apply to flyers and coupons, not political flyers or newspapers. But, is that any better? So, they are OK with political speech (which is good) but against capitalism?
And, naturally, not one Chicago politician alerted the public to their little plan, nor consulted any citizens or business to ask their opinion. They just passed it without debate.
This is just one more example that the meddling fat-cats who run the city of Chicago feel little need to consult the people who put them in office, the businesses that pay their bills, or the community at large.
So, don't try to emulate the Founding Fathers and try to distribute newspapers and periodicals in Chicago. Your efforts will just be deemed as "litter" and made illegal.
Well, there goes the Penny Saver and The Reader... just damn!
What do you mean kingdom? It’s an empire, the Empire of the Inland Sea, the Olympian Amusement Park, the Feudal Desmesne of His HolyHighness Hizzoner THEMAYORFORLIFE, infeudated directly from the Hands of the Gods of Lofty Olympus, accompanied by earthquake, fire and brimstone.
Uh, The Reader is indeed litter, fit for birdcage lining and, when shredded, for kitty boxes. Now Penny Saver, that I’ll grant you, there’s some real journalism.
But what about the Tribune’s and Sun-Times’s freebies aimed at the Yuppies? Surely our buddy THE MAYOR does not intend to crimp their style?
So this includes all those nice tourist brochures that are handed out free in Tourist Information centers and hotel lobbies as well.
The way I read it.
Looks to me like this ordinance is ripe for getting shot down in federal court on 1st Amendment ‘Freedom of the Press’ grounds.
Chicago politics have been corrupt for as long as anyone can remember. The citizens of Chicago must like it that way.
I give it til 10am Monday morning before a judge slaps these Chicago fascists down.
Using this law one could claim that political signs and hand-outs and flyers given out to alert citizens to municipal meetings are garbage. That, of course, wouldn’t be far from the truth.
Do these morons realize one of the 'Free Newspapers' they've just banned actually does some good. I can't recall the name but its published by a Homeless Organization and the 'donations' for the paper goes to to help these people and run a shelter. I used to 'buy' one a week when I took the METRA downtown. I'd 'pay' a buck or whatever loose change I had on me, glance through it then toss it in the trash bin in Union Station or on the train. No 'litter' involved.
So my guess is that they real purpose was to shut down the Chicago Reader - period. That paper used to some good and I mean GOOD investigative journalism. Years ago they did some digging into Rock Concerts that were held at Soldier Field and Mob connections. And man-oh-man the people named were screwed, blued and tattooed.
I kept a copy of that issue for along time. People I knew .... oops, that's enough...)
Have you been to Las Vegas lately? There are scores of immigrants per block (on the strip) handing out brochures on strip joints, etc. Most tourists, not being skilled in vendor avoidance, take them and drop them immediately. So you end up stepping on them as you walk.
This law would apply here but not, as I read it, to handing out a newspaper to people who want to read it.
Any Chicago native will tell you that, if the city could find a way to tax it, it would be allowed to exist.
On the plus side, the five or six remaining LaRouche supporters in the city will be out of business.
More than likely this will get shut down in the courts
Some more big govt-Nazi nonsense, this Chi law
easy enough to get around...
Post an invoice in the back where you can mail your penny for the publication.
Call it the read-now-pay-later publication.
In Chicago, where the 2nd is trampled to fiercely, I just can see them getting away with trampling the 1st....the land of vote-early-vote-often-even-if-you-are-dead.
Can’t have anyone exposing Democrat Corruption that the Trib won’t cover, can we??
I mean really, you don’t need non-Democrat approved information anyway, do you? They DO know what is best for you...
HEIL HILLARY!!
(Do I even need to say /s?)
this will not pass the strict scrutiny test of the courts.
DOES ANYONE on a city council care about law any more?
It is all about control regardless of law.
A female friend had fun with that lately, collecting the “Hooker Trading Cards”...
” I’ll trade you two Ashley’s for an April!” They eventually get the message, and leave you alone...
But, tacked onto the law is a little section that bans the distribution of free publications. This ordinance made it unlawful to distribute free “newspapers, periodicals and directories of any kind on any public way or other public place or on the premise of private property in the city in such a manner that it is reasonably foreseeable that such distribution will cause litter.”
Chicago is still a corrupt toilet of gangsters...
this isn’t about litter or free speach....
it’s about protecting newspaper UNIONS!!!!!!!
Sure would explain why Clintigula used to fly in to Chitown on AF1 for visit with his pal the mayor, what, twice a year every year of his two terms?
The Bent1 was merely thirsting for a little *free* speech while diving-up the take with The Godfather. :o)
"Of course, the Aldermen who voted 50 to nothing for this law are scrambling to answer critics of the ordinance."
Uh-huh, nothing but assholes & elbows around Chicago's city hall.
...unbelievable. ;^)
Even in Vermont we get free newspapers, and it’s a pain in the elbow.
As soon as I set up my new mailbox, someone came along and drove a brass hook into one side of the post, where they hang a free newspaper from it every week, just one more item that has to be sorted out and recycled.
The only way I can stop it is to leave the old newspaper hanging there, like a dirty eyesore. Then they usually skip hanging up a new one.
Should they be prevented from distributing? Not if people want it, but there should be some better way of refusing. Then the next thing we need to do is raise the cost of junk mail. Why does the Post Office subsidize it on our dime?
The dead ones like it. The live ones are out voted.
Touché!!
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