WestView reader and contributor Ben Benson, along with other concerned residents, tirelessly protects the Village landscape from the onslaught of illegal postings. Benson consistently informs the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) of the fliers he observes and even works to remove them himself. Below is the message he received from the DSNY’s Director of Enforcement, Chief Christopher Klingler, in response to a July complaint he filed. Also included is Benson’s recent complaint about illegal postings, which advertise moving services. (Note: Both messages have been slightly edited.)
Benson encourages readers to file similar complaints as often as possible. Follow the steps below to make your voice heard:
- Visit: nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildos.html.
- For ‘Message Type’ select ‘Complaint’ within the drop-down menu.
- For ‘Message Topic’ select ‘Enforcement Issue’ within the drop-down menu.
- You can either remain anonymous or insert your name and contact information.
- In the ‘Message’ field, type ‘ILLEGAL POSTINGS’ and describe the street location(s) or neighborhood of the illegal postings, and the content of the postings, in 150 words or less.
- Press the ‘Submit’ button.
Dear Ben Benson:
I am writing in response to your email message dated July 17, 2017 to Commissioner Kathryn Garcia regarding the illegal postings of signage on 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue between 12th Street and 34th Street, in Manhattan.
On July 20th, Agent Mendoza of the Department’s Enforcement Division Illegal Posting Unit inspected the abovementioned area and sighted and removed 16 handbills, which were affixed to public property. Upon further investigation to determine the responsible party, a warning letter will be sent to the responsible party. The letter will explain to the respondent the City’s posting law. Then, after a two-week waiting period, a re-inspection of the location will be done and if signage with the same information is observed, a summons for each illegal posting violation will be issued to the respondent.
Department of Sanitation Enforcement personnel will continue to monitor the area for illegal postings and appropriate enforcement action will be taken if violations are observed.
Thank you for your email.
Sincerely,
Chief Christopher Klingler
Director of Enforcement
New York City Department of Sanitation
Dear Chief Klingler,
This morning, Wednesday August 23, 2017, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., the lawbreakers from Brighton Beach were out plastering our neighborhood with ‘MOVING 212-470-4515’ fliers. Again! I ripped down about 30 or 40 of them, including one right in front of the NYPD’s 6th Precinct on West 10th Street. The perpetrators also hit Christopher, West 10th, Charles, West 11th, and Bank Streets. I did not sweep the area west of Hudson Street. Hence, please send a crew to clean up that area of the West Village. More importantly, make them stop their illegal practice by issuing the prescribed fines, per Title 10-119 of the Sanitation Code.
Thank you,
— Ben Benson
