We've been wondering for years why the City of Portland, which is now about to try to ban plastic grocery bags, isn't doing anything about the unwanted phone books that show up (wrapped in plastic bags, of course) on our front porch several times a year. Yesterday a reader wrote us to note that she was about to get a 13-week free subscription to the Oregonian, paid for by the O, Oil Can Henry's, and the Portland Timbers, and that got us thinking about the subject again.
If Portland banned dumping phone books, would it have to ban handout subscriptions such as the O's as well? If the city banned only the unsolicited delivery of free books and not of free papers, would that be an unconstitutional abridgment of the phone book publishers' rights of free speech? That might explain some of the City Council's reluctance to move forward. Free newspapers are a big deal in Portland -- and their publishers can bury just about any politician if they want to.
Comments (12)
Don't ban the phone books outright. Just enact an opt-out program with teeth.
I'd say this about constitutionality of it all. The city should have an opt out law that is rigorously enforced. Telcos and newsprinters don't have the right to litter on my property or anyone else's.
I've had an ongoing battle with the O about not leaving their weekly bird cage liner on my property. Every so often they start up again, I guess thinking that the property ownership has changed. From my POV, they've been notified verbally and in writing and that should end it.
If I want a free local paper, I know where I can pick one up. I don't need it littered on my property.
The phone book thing is annoying too, but it's harder to figure out who to contact for that.
Not to forget the Weekly Shopper Rags (the weekly Big ad publications) given FREE to those who don't subscribe to the newspaper and continue on for ever more.
Paper newspapers - including those FoodDay and neighborhood association papers, and those "newspapers" that Metro puts out about how to recycle.
Telephone books. (Should be opt-in. And frankly this is something I don't have a problem with charging for, but it should be a phone company's choice to charge for it, NOT a government mandated fee.)
Junk mail - ANY unsolicited mail. (Here's talking to you, COMCAST! I don't need three pieces of junk mail every freakin' day!)
Bill statements. (Remember the days when your electric bill was JUST a postcard?)
The city's bloated motor pool. (Whatever happened to taking TriMet or riding a bike on city business?)
Police officers in big, oversized, V-8 powered Crown Victorias. (Why not use motorcycles and smaller econocars, and for jail transports use paddywaggons?)
Huge, oversized fire trucks that go out on medical calls. Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls anyways, why not JUST the ambulance?
Traffic signals that are turned on 24/7, but surely aren't needed after 9:30 PM and could be turned off until 6:00 AM or so. Pedestrian signals that are always on, instead of on-demand only.
Lighted advertising signs. (The Portland, Oregon/Old Town sign, and the Rose atop the Rose Festival/Water Bureau building are in this category.)
Hmmm...what other else, no-brained ways could we come up with saving the environment, that mostly hit the city rather than its residents?
One I can think of is light pollution. Most street lamps are too bright, direct light where it's not needed or desired, and there's too many of them. This wastes a lot of electricity, and causes light pollution. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to see the Milky Way in town?
Crappy lighting can aggravate night blindness in old people, and while they're often installed to deter crime and that seems intuitive, study after study shows the relationship is the other way around. I'm too lazy to dig it up now, but just Google "light pollution" and crime together.
Police officers drive in big, oversized, V-8 powered Crown Victorias because half of the people they chase drive oversized V8 powered things. You try to jam a Buick Riviera with your Honda Fit, let me know how that goes for you.
Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls, not JUST the ambulance? Well for one there is no ambulance. They are all private, owned by AMR. The few cents in diesel it takes to send out the fire department vs. the hundreds we have to pay AMR = send fire dept every time. If they do not go on calls they sit in the firehouse and we still have to pay them.
Traffic signals? The Portland, Oregon/Old Town sign? The Rose atop the Rose Festival/Water Bureau building?
Tector--watch out, all of a sudden you're going to find yourself with a $38 bill, because the "free" part of your subscription has an end date and they don't call to ask if you want to change your subscription plan.
Police officers drive in big, oversized, V-8 powered Crown Victorias because half of the people they chase drive oversized V8 powered things. You try to jam a Buick Riviera with your Honda Fit, let me know how that goes for you.
Actual pursuits are rare. Certainly the Police would still have pursuit capable vehicles; just not EVERY vehicle would be pursuit capable as we have today in our homogonized fleet of Crown Vics (with a few Chargers added recently).
(Not to mention that police pursuits actually decrease public safety and it might be to our advantage to let certain criminals flee...provided we know where we can catch up with them later.)
Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls, not JUST the ambulance? Well for one there is no ambulance. They are all private, owned by AMR. The few cents in diesel it takes to send out the fire department vs. the hundreds we have to pay AMR = send fire dept every time. If they do not go on calls they sit in the firehouse and we still have to pay them.
A private ambulance is still an ambulance. On a medical call, both the Fire Bureau AND AMR respond. They work together. But at the end of the day, you have a lot of people standing around, and a decision is made to transport or depart. AMR only gets paid if it transports; yet it responds to every call.
Further, the vast majority of fire calls are not fire calls, they're medic calls. With absolutely no need for a huge fire truck (which aren't cheap to purchase, maintain OR fuel.) Not to mention aren't exactly environmentally friendly (but they're nice to have - when there's an actual fire.)
Aaron, I actually thought about including that but couldn't figure out how I wanted to word it. But excellent point - do we REALLY need all of those street lights? Must they be huge incandescent bulbs that spread light everywhere?
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (12)
Don't ban the phone books outright. Just enact an opt-out program with teeth.
Posted by none | July 17, 2011 3:24 PM
I'd say this about constitutionality of it all. The city should have an opt out law that is rigorously enforced. Telcos and newsprinters don't have the right to litter on my property or anyone else's.
I've had an ongoing battle with the O about not leaving their weekly bird cage liner on my property. Every so often they start up again, I guess thinking that the property ownership has changed. From my POV, they've been notified verbally and in writing and that should end it.
If I want a free local paper, I know where I can pick one up. I don't need it littered on my property.
The phone book thing is annoying too, but it's harder to figure out who to contact for that.
Posted by LucsAdvo | July 17, 2011 3:26 PM
I got one of those free 13-week subscriptions to The Oregonian. That was four months ago and I STILL get the paper free every day. A very good price.
Posted by Tector Gorch | July 17, 2011 4:00 PM
Not to forget the Weekly Shopper Rags (the weekly Big ad publications) given FREE to those who don't subscribe to the newspaper and continue on for ever more.
Just try to cancel those.
Posted by Abe | July 17, 2011 5:31 PM
Not to mention that my daily paper is delivered in a, wait for it, plastic bag.
However with the way daily subscribers are dropping we'll be plastic free there soon as well.
Posted by other steve | July 17, 2011 6:32 PM
Plastic bags.
Paper newspapers - including those FoodDay and neighborhood association papers, and those "newspapers" that Metro puts out about how to recycle.
Telephone books. (Should be opt-in. And frankly this is something I don't have a problem with charging for, but it should be a phone company's choice to charge for it, NOT a government mandated fee.)
Junk mail - ANY unsolicited mail. (Here's talking to you, COMCAST! I don't need three pieces of junk mail every freakin' day!)
Bill statements. (Remember the days when your electric bill was JUST a postcard?)
The city's bloated motor pool. (Whatever happened to taking TriMet or riding a bike on city business?)
Police officers in big, oversized, V-8 powered Crown Victorias. (Why not use motorcycles and smaller econocars, and for jail transports use paddywaggons?)
Huge, oversized fire trucks that go out on medical calls. Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls anyways, why not JUST the ambulance?
Traffic signals that are turned on 24/7, but surely aren't needed after 9:30 PM and could be turned off until 6:00 AM or so. Pedestrian signals that are always on, instead of on-demand only.
Lighted advertising signs. (The Portland, Oregon/Old Town sign, and the Rose atop the Rose Festival/Water Bureau building are in this category.)
Hmmm...what other else, no-brained ways could we come up with saving the environment, that mostly hit the city rather than its residents?
Posted by Erik H. | July 17, 2011 7:15 PM
Erik:
One I can think of is light pollution. Most street lamps are too bright, direct light where it's not needed or desired, and there's too many of them. This wastes a lot of electricity, and causes light pollution. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to see the Milky Way in town?
Crappy lighting can aggravate night blindness in old people, and while they're often installed to deter crime and that seems intuitive, study after study shows the relationship is the other way around. I'm too lazy to dig it up now, but just Google "light pollution" and crime together.
Check out Dark Skies Northwest.
Posted by Aaron | July 17, 2011 8:44 PM
Aaron,
In the stores as well, sunglasses are needed in some of them.
It would be very nice to see the Milky Way in town.
Posted by clinamen | July 17, 2011 9:43 PM
Police officers drive in big, oversized, V-8 powered Crown Victorias because half of the people they chase drive oversized V8 powered things. You try to jam a Buick Riviera with your Honda Fit, let me know how that goes for you.
Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls, not JUST the ambulance? Well for one there is no ambulance. They are all private, owned by AMR. The few cents in diesel it takes to send out the fire department vs. the hundreds we have to pay AMR = send fire dept every time. If they do not go on calls they sit in the firehouse and we still have to pay them.
Traffic signals? The Portland, Oregon/Old Town sign? The Rose atop the Rose Festival/Water Bureau building?
We could save 10's if not 100's of dollars!
Posted by jay jay mack | July 18, 2011 6:54 AM
Tector--watch out, all of a sudden you're going to find yourself with a $38 bill, because the "free" part of your subscription has an end date and they don't call to ask if you want to change your subscription plan.
Posted by Michelle | July 18, 2011 10:51 AM
Police officers drive in big, oversized, V-8 powered Crown Victorias because half of the people they chase drive oversized V8 powered things. You try to jam a Buick Riviera with your Honda Fit, let me know how that goes for you.
Actual pursuits are rare. Certainly the Police would still have pursuit capable vehicles; just not EVERY vehicle would be pursuit capable as we have today in our homogonized fleet of Crown Vics (with a few Chargers added recently).
(Not to mention that police pursuits actually decrease public safety and it might be to our advantage to let certain criminals flee...provided we know where we can catch up with them later.)
Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls, not JUST the ambulance? Well for one there is no ambulance. They are all private, owned by AMR. The few cents in diesel it takes to send out the fire department vs. the hundreds we have to pay AMR = send fire dept every time. If they do not go on calls they sit in the firehouse and we still have to pay them.
A private ambulance is still an ambulance. On a medical call, both the Fire Bureau AND AMR respond. They work together. But at the end of the day, you have a lot of people standing around, and a decision is made to transport or depart. AMR only gets paid if it transports; yet it responds to every call.
Further, the vast majority of fire calls are not fire calls, they're medic calls. With absolutely no need for a huge fire truck (which aren't cheap to purchase, maintain OR fuel.) Not to mention aren't exactly environmentally friendly (but they're nice to have - when there's an actual fire.)
Posted by Erik H. | July 18, 2011 12:50 PM
One I can think of is light pollution
Aaron, I actually thought about including that but couldn't figure out how I wanted to word it. But excellent point - do we REALLY need all of those street lights? Must they be huge incandescent bulbs that spread light everywhere?
Posted by Erik H. | July 18, 2011 12:51 PM