TESTIMONY
Diana Maurer, Member of the Public, on Regulating and Maintaining News Racks in New York City
2:17:09
·
143 sec
Maurer expresses frustration over the lack of enforcement of existing regulations for news racks in NYC regarding identification and maintenance.
- She states that a 2003 regulation requiring news racks to display the publication's name, address, phone, and email has not been enforced
- Maurer claims the news racks are poorly maintained and being used for illegal activities like drug drops
- She argues publications using public sidewalk space should pay fees, similar to restaurants with sidewalk seating
Diana Maurer
2:17:09
I'm I'm my my name is Diana Moore.
2:17:12
I'm speaking about the the new proposals put forward by counsel deliver air voucher regarding the news rack situation.
2:17:21
This is an issue that I've been railing about since, like, I think, 1999.
2:17:28
In in the new and and and I appreciate that Council member, Baucher, is looking into this this situation.
2:17:36
He says he some people don't think it's important.
2:17:39
I still think it it is.
2:17:41
1 of the things is is listed is and some of the other people on the panel spoke to it that it would they said it would be easier as far as DOT if the boxes were, you know, identified with the publication's name, their address, their phone number, their email, and and all that stuff.
2:18:00
This was passed in 2003 that is 21 years ago where the these These boxes were required to to be identified so that they could be reported either by the public or or DOT or or whoever.
2:18:16
It's a sticker.
2:18:18
It hasn't been done.
2:18:19
It's being put on here again why it's already part of the the the current regulations.
2:18:24
And like I said, that was issued 21 years ago in 2003.
2:18:30
I as far as the maintenance goes, their their their terrible.
2:18:33
People complain about garbage.
2:18:35
I want to mention that what last I've seen it twice, 1 time last year.
2:18:41
I was was actually a business owner here on Seventh Avenue.
2:18:44
In addition to garbage, these boxes are now being used as and who knows for how long being used as drug drop off points.
2:18:54
We were standing outside this super hot vehicle comes racing up 7th Ave down 7th Avenue.
2:19:02
A guy jumps at the driver's seat opens up the box pulls that a jump into the van, jumps back in the car, and speeds up.
2:19:08
We both standing and look at each other.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:19:10
Thank you.
2:19:10
I'm sorry.
2:19:11
I'm gonna ask you to wrap up, please.
2:19:12
And
Diana Maurer
2:19:14
And I just want as far as maintenance goes, I feel that the publications should they should pay for use in the sidewalk space.
2:19:22
We're charging our restaurants or to use sidewalk space.
2:19:25
Free speech does not mean free space, and I think they should pay for the privilege of using public space.
2:19:31
Thank you very much.