NYC cracks down on unwanted menus

NEW YORK -- You've heard of e-mail spam -- now a New York City councilman wants to do something about menu spam, the unwanted menus and circulars that have a way of appearing on city doorsteps and under doors.

Simcha Felder has introduced legislation that would make it illegal to distribute menus, circulars and fliers to homes and apartment buildings that display a sign indicating promotional materials are unwanted.

Felder's bill calls for a fine of at least $50 for distributors that leave them anyway.

"This drives people out of their minds," said Felder, a Democrat who represents sections of Brooklyn. "You have no control over it. People are livid. If I'm responsible for the cleanliness of my property I should also have the authority to decide whether I receive the junk or not. You shouldn't have to be responsible for cleaning up someone else's garbage."

Felder said the accumulation forces property owners to clean it up or risk getting a summons from the Department of Sanitation, such as the $100 ticket his mother received this year.