Thin gruel indeed . . .

The corporate litterers have apparently terrified Salem's City Hall with the empty threat of a suit against a strong ordinance to allow you to opt-out of having them dump junk flyers and other trash on you.

The threat is hollow because a content-neutral time, place, and manner restriction on leaving such trash is completely constitutional and would be upheld -- and would pave the way for helping Salem regain control of its politics by showing that we the people do have the right not to be forced to clean up trash that some advertiser decides to dump on us without our consent.

So, this Monday night, head for City Hall and ask for a real junk ad litter ordinance that works just like the "Do Not Call" list (that the telemarketing criminals also threatened to sue over).

(a) Ordinance Bill No. 15-11 Relating to Solid Waste Management; Adding SRC 47.231, and Amending SRC 47.245 (CD)

Recommended Action: Staff recommends the Unsolicited Written Materials ordinance be considered at a public hearing on April 25, 2011.