I quickly received a nice email from AnnArbor.com telling me they would remove me from 'the list' if I did not want to receive their 'paper.' I responded that I shouldn't have to ask people not to throw trash in my yard.

Kurt - Ed V, noted as a watcher, is "Lead Blogger" for AnnArbor.com's community section. I'd suspect a connection here.

A few years ago, Riverside NA was experiencing some displeasure with Ann Arbor News' free "Community News" sunday weekly - we found it to make up a majority of what we were picking up on our occasional neighborhood litter-picking days.

We called their distribution staff, noted our displeasure as a neighborhood, and the fact that many of the houses in our area were collecting 5 or 6 or 10 weeks worth in the front lawn, and so clearly did not need them. I believe we worked out, as a compromise resolution, "don't leave the free weekly at any house that still has last week's on the lawn", and that at least prevented any build-up.

I've not noticed any issue with AnnArbor.com in my neighborhood - perhaps our past concerns carried through to the new publication. If PPNA finds that A2.com's distribution practices are causing widespread brand dissatisfaction, it's probably worth stating that to them.

Thanks Murph. Kurt, I forwarded your note to the person who contacted you.

AnnArbor.com paid subscriptions and the "TMC" product ("total market coverage") are delivered by carriers who are contractors. We are happy to let them know and update their routes for houses that don't want that paper. Generally that results in papers not getting delivered within a week or maybe two.

The other free distribution print product delivered to doorsteps is the Ann Arbor Journal, published by the same people who print the Ypsilanti Courier; they will also take your name off their distribution list if you ask.

Ed and Murph thanks for your responses,

The Riverside NA example is a great one. Why did they have to 'reach a compromise' because houses had 10 weeks of 'papers' on their lawns? Once again, I should not have to ask people not to throw trash on my lawn.

Ed, 'delivered to doorsteps' is a very inappropriate term since they are tossed in the middle of driveways (against city ordinances).

Aside from making our neighborhood look like a plastic bag/paper dump, another thing that irritates me about this issue is that we subscribe to the Sunday paper and still receive the free "Community News" . What a waste of paper and plastic.

I have asked for years to not have the free weekly thrown into my yard and at at my rentals. It works for a while and then when a new person gets the route we start all over again. AnnArbor.com should have to opt-in rather than opt-out from auto-delivery.

I actually like getting the weekly "TMC" product for the ads, but would definitely like it delivered to my front porch instead of somewhere in the vicinity of the end of my driveway. I also know my neighbor has repeatedly tried to get these stopped with minimal success.

I too would like to opt-out of getting the "Milestones" paper.

They throw the damn thing in our yard and we already get their paper. When I go running in the neighborhood, especially in the winter, I see hundreds of their unsolicited papers rotting in driveways, yards, sidewalks, even streets. It's a shame they can't be fined for littering, as they should be.

How about it AnnArbor.com, can you do something about this problem?

Maybe we should collect a whole bunch of them and take them over to Tony Dearing's neighborhood (He is the managing editor of AnnArbor.com) and leave them there for him. Bet his neighbors would be thrilled to see the piles of newspapers in his yard.

Hello All Interested,

Our City Manager acted on this pretty quickly.

Here is the information I received from Ed Koryzno
***
The City Attorney called AnnArbor.com and talked to Jeff Crow, the head of the circulation department. He assured Mr. Barr that the Milestone paper does meet the content limit of more than 15% actual “news” content. He also said that they are very concerned that they properly deliver to only occupied homes and he will investigate and take steps to correct the matter.
Because the 1st amendment provides freedom of the press protection to newspapers, the “handbill” restrictions in our ordinances do not apply to newspapers.
***

If the delivery methods continue the next step would be to contact advertisers.

I'm going to pull the 'Milestone paper out of my driveway and count the content'

I am also tired of picking up their newspaper from my yard. I agree that they should be fined for littering and should not have to be requested to stop. They should be required to get permission to leave them not the other way around.

Janice,

I guess I am left wondering... On one hand this is cool that the City Manager jumped right on this issue. Yeah!

However, is AnnArbor.com asserting that their first amendment rights trump our property rights?

I don't want AnnArbor.com throwing items on my property. I don't want them trespassing on my property to 'deliver' their circular.

The bigger issue is this. Can AnnArbor.com be a good corporate citizen?

AnnArbor.com should have an easy way for folks to opt-in to the circular and not deliver the 'free paper' to people that don't want it.

If you have a sign on your property providing notice that you don't want any AnnArbor.com circulars or if you have already notified AnnArbor.com by phone or in writing that you don't want their free advertising circular, they should respect that notice.

Just a thought!

- Steve

OK, maybe this should be the way AnnArbor.com has to deliver the newspaper.

Steve,

The assertion is that their right to "freedom of speech" trumps our rights to keep them from throwing trash on our properties. Two separate attorneys I have talked with have made this claim. The key is that there only needs to be 15% 'News' for them to assert this claim. I've been keeping track of the content and last week they were above their allowed 15%. I plan on taking that to the City Attorney and ordering a ticket be issued.

What we learn from the city attorney's opinion is that anyone can throw anything on the lawns as long as there is 15% 'news.' Using the 'community news' as an example pictures count as news.

I'm going to be contacting Mejer and the other advertisers since the goal of the 'paper' is not to provide news but to circulate advertisements.

I've also had some neighbors interested in having a protest at the Ann Arbor.com offices. The initial plan is to keep all of the trash we have to collect and systematically throw it on their sidewalks. My guess is the Ann Arbor Police will have a different opinion than the Ypsilanti City Attorney.

A very typical picture scene in Ypsilanti

Sometimes they get loose

I have the same issue with AnnArbor.com & also something called the Ann Arbor Journal being thrown in our driveway. I have contacted both companies over & over again repeatedly requesting that they stop "littering" on our property. I get, of course, very nice & apologetic replies and assurances they have put a stop order for our address. But then, of course, their publications are once again tossed in our driveway the very next week. Unlike US postal deliveries I feel we have no recourse.

Except as my husband said we need to start contacting the advertisers to say we will not frequent their businesses. Why should we have to do this?

I find it very frustrating that the Ann Arbor.com and the Ann Arbor Jouranl can violate us in this way and legally get away with it. They are littering and they need to be ticketed and stopped. Who cares what percentage is news it is still littering. Why should I have to contact the advertisers they are getting money from to complain about the flagrant disrespect for my property. It should be the other way around. If they want to leave a paper in someone's driveway they should be required by law to get written permission.

Not only the littering of our private property, but the neighborhood residents property taxes are depleted cleaning up their garbage. I find it egregiously offensive under the guise of 'free speech' that AA.com can disregard and irresponsibly shrug off its littering of communities.

OPT-OUT does nothing. I opted out three weeks ago, continue to get the trash packets thrown on my property from a moving vehicle and this past weekend I received two.

There needs to be township/city ordinances written to charge AA.com for the cost of clean up of their littering. Not the immediate tossing of their garbage (to protect 'free speech'), but the aftereffects of its clean up that costs taxpayers. Let them get charged $200 an hour for a pair of township/city employees to pick up their trash off our street. One day, $1,600 charge, then take them to Small claims court as long as the bills under $5,000.

I'm not trying to destroy their business, but these ad packets can be distributed by the USPS (as it did in some areas of Pittsfield Township where I moved from last year).

All township/city newsletters, email distribution to residents, all neighborhood watch newsletters, .... shouldl contain AA.com's OPT OUT phone number. In fact I just wrote my township supervisor about that this A.M.

I use to buy 10 newspapers weekly (no Sundays), but effective immediately I will not buy another newpaper, because AA.com uses the FACADE of 'free speech' to trash our private property and litter our streets and neighborhoods.

LR

We, once again, had a AA.com paper thrown in our driveway last week after trying to opt out for months. (Very attractive after it rained that night.) When I opted out of the Ann Arbor Journal months ago and was still receiving them, the person at Washtenaw News Co. gave me this response: "Our deepest apologies. I have charged the delivery person for the error and have written a note reminding her to not deliver to your address again." I hate for the delivery person being penalized for, most likely, not getting the stop order, but we haven't gotten any papers since then.

Just to add another comment.

Two AA.com numbers for OPT OUT are (734)926-4555 and (888)922-2472, but there are numerous forums on the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti 'CRAIGSLIST' website

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/

and I'd advise all irritated individual to overload those forums with AA.com OPT OUT phone numbers and details and let the public be aware what options they have.

LR,

Thanks for posting the number, I just called and opted-out of my three properties.

Here is the number to call

(734) 926-4555 then press 0 for the circulation desk and tell them you want to opt out of Milestones in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor.

If you have multiple apartments, they will need to enter each apartment so it will take a while for each apartment.

Also if your address is not in the system, they have NO WAY to enter your address. You have to subscribe, they will enter your address, then unsubscribe, and then you can do a block.

Then call back a week later and ask them to confirm the opt-out.

You can also ask for the name of the circulation manager for your area. Then ask for the area manager to call you.

I think you see a pattern here, AnnArbor.com does not want to make it easy to get out receiving the Milestones

Remember, don't yell at folks, be polite, but express your frustration and ask them to follow-up with you to make sure you are no longer getting the free circulars.

- Steve

Thanks Steve, wonder what AA.com would do if mass numbers began calling or, ...

What if they ignored your requests (taped) can there be any legal ramifications for their disregard to continue littering your private property.

Received this in an e-mail this morning.

"Courier-Journal trying to toss out new anti-litter law"

http://www.examiner.com/x-17027-Louisville-Green-Living-Examiner~y2009m9d14-CourierJournal-trying-to-toss-out-new-antilitter-law

It's 2009, but ...

This is the article.

http://www.examiner.com/x-17027-Louisville-Green-Living-Examiner~y2009m9d14-CourierJournal-trying-to-toss-out-new-antilitter-law

COURIER-JOURNAL TRYING TO TOSS OUT NEW ANTI-LITTERING LAW

The days of paperboys slinging newspapers, especially the ad supplements, onto lawns and driveways may be coming to an end in Louisville. In June of this year, The Louisville Metro Council passed an anti-litter ordinance that will require people delivering unsolicited written materials -- including advertising supplements from The Courier-Journal -- to place those items in specific areas around homes. The ordinance passed 20-3. It requires the supplements to be placed in a distribution box; on a porch or near a front door; securely attached to a front door; between the exterior and interior front doors; or left personally with the owner

The Courier-Journal, Kentucky's largest daily newspaper, is suing Louisville metro government over the anti-litter ordinance. In legal documents, the city described the newspaper’s delivery of the ad supplements as a “fly-and-fling method of distribution, accomplished under cover of darkness.” Unsolicited materials “are being haphazardly delivered throughout Metro Louisville … on sidewalks, yards, and driveways with no means to ensure that such items do not add to the litter problem created,” according to the preamble to the ordinance, which Simpson cited in his opinion. The preamble said the materials contribute to “visual blight.”

In its lawsuit, however, The Courier-Journal argues
that the anti-litter law violates constitutional guarantees of free speech and press and also imposes potentially "excessive" fines. Fines can be as high as $200 per violation, and Jon Fleischaker, an attorney for the newspaper, has said that could add up to as much as $68 million a week if imposed for all 340,000 supplements delivered.

Just this week a federal judge has rejected The Courier-Journal's effort to block enforcement of the Louisville anti-litter ordinance. In an opinion issued Friday, Judge Charles R. Simpson III concluded that "there is little likelihood that the Courier will succeed on the merits of its claims" in a lawsuit the newspaper filed after the Metro Council passed the ordinance in June. Many see the newspaper's side on this issue, buy many also look forward to cleaner front yards and driveways. This will be an ongoing power struggle as both sides with be fighting this to the end.

Thanks a lot,

This will be a very interesting case to follow. I've sent it along to Ed Koryzno, Pete Murdock, Brian Robb, and Paul Schreiber. Hopefully, Ypsilanti will enact a similar ordinance after the Louisville cases are settled.

Janice,

I've also got YT to add notes in mailings, Neighborhood watch newsletters, bi-monthly water bills, ... that lists the AnnArbor.com OPT OUT number. Brenda Stumbo e-mailed me that she has informed AA.com of today. Part of a message I sent her yesterday pressed the need to get the public informed of the OPT OUT option with," ... because the evidence of AA.com packets on the perimeter of a YT home, whether inhabited or abandoned, is a clear indicator for any potential risks of vandalism. And that responsibility of security and safeguard falls within the purview of YT's responsibly to fortify and stringently enhance a safe and secure living environment for its residents through YT's relentless acts of public notifications that might aid in quelling any concerns of vulnerability to home break-ins, intrusions, assaults ... "

Eveyone in the Washtenaw County area should contact their community jurisdictions and demand that they place this OPT OUT information and AA.com's phone number on all their newsletters, reseidence updates, ... so their taxpayers can voice their opinion by OPTing OUT of the littering of their neighborhood streets and private property under the guise of 'free speech.

Why should our tax dollars be used to clean up their mess, weeks and weeks, after their packets are obsolete?

LR

We called the opt out number today and asked them to stop delivery of the no news paper.

Welll fols received this e-mail from AA.com this AM.
From: "Dearing, Tony"
Sent: Apr 8, 2010 8:17 AM
To: lute1812@*******.com
Subject: AnnArbor.com

Mr. Reffitt:

I know that you have had ongoing concerns about the free-distribution newspaper that AnnArbor.com has been delivering to homes in your neighborhood, and I apologize that these concerns have not been resolved swiftly and to your satisfaction. I wanted to let you know that as of this weekend, we will no longer be delivering this free-distribution product in your neighborhood, or in other neighborhoods in Ypsilanti Township where there has been a problem. Because other steps we have taken have not solved the problem, we have concluded that no longer delivering the product in your neighborhood is necessary in order to resolve it. Again, I apologize for the problems you have experienced. If you have any problems in the future, please feel free to contact me directly.

Regards,

Tony Dearing
AnnArbor.com

Welll fols received this e-mail from AA.com this AM.
From: "Dearing, Tony"
Sent: Apr 8, 2010 8:17 AM
To: lute1812@*******.com
Subject: AnnArbor.com

Mr. Reffitt:

I know that you have had ongoing concerns about the free-distribution newspaper that AnnArbor.com has been delivering to homes in your neighborhood, and I apologize that these concerns have not been resolved swiftly and to your satisfaction. I wanted to let you know that as of this weekend, we will no longer be delivering this free-distribution product in your neighborhood, or in other neighborhoods in Ypsilanti Township where there has been a problem. Because other steps we have taken have not solved the problem, we have concluded that no longer delivering the product in your neighborhood is necessary in order to resolve it. Again, I apologize for the problems you have experienced. If you have any problems in the future, please feel free to contact me directly.

Regards,

Tony Dearing
AnnArbor.com

Welll fols received this e-mail from AA.com this AM.
From: "Dearing, Tony"
Sent: Apr 8, 2010 8:17 AM
To: lute1812@*******.com
Subject: AnnArbor.com

Mr. Reffitt:

I know that you have had ongoing concerns about the free-distribution newspaper that AnnArbor.com has been delivering to homes in your neighborhood, and I apologize that these concerns have not been resolved swiftly and to your satisfaction. I wanted to let you know that as of this weekend, we will no longer be delivering this free-distribution product in your neighborhood, or in other neighborhoods in Ypsilanti Township where there has been a problem. Because other steps we have taken have not solved the problem, we have concluded that no longer delivering the product in your neighborhood is necessary in order to resolve it. Again, I apologize for the problems you have experienced. If you have any problems in the future, please feel free to contact me directly.

Regards,

Tony Dearing
AnnArbor.com

I wonder if Mr Dearing would extend the same courtesy and stop delivering the Milestones to the City of Ypsilanti too.

It was Kurt Anschuetz in the City that started this discussion.

I think we wait for the appeals to end in the Louisville case. If Louisville wins I think there will be ordinances written in both Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. It's a shame when companies can't act responsibly and they need legislation to do the right thing. I'm certainly happy they are backing out of the township which is one small step in the right direction.

I am still of the opinion that this program should be opt-in and not opt-out.

Kurt A

Who knows how long the appeals will last!

I suspect the Courier-Journal will take this issue all the way to the Supreme Court. This would be a crucial loss for those distributing, as Carol & Woody put it, their 'no news' newspaper a practice disguised as 'free speech' that probably spans the U.S.

For any still receiving AA.com's littering packets I'd just throw them out into the streets. Let your township and city deal with their arrogance.

LR

I called, spent, 45 minutes over two days on the phone talking to the folks in Jackson to get my three properties on a do not deliver list.

No luck, two weeks later, I am still getting unwanted papers thrown in my yard.

Ta-Dah!

After emailing Tony Dearing directly and then spending another 15 minutes on the phone with circulation in Ann Arbor, I made it through the weekend with no annarbor.com delivered to any of my properties.

A2.com needs to make it WAY EASIER to get off the merry-go-round. Perhaps they would be willing to post phone numbers of email addresses of whom to contact so residents can quickly get your property off their delivery route.

Congrats, Mr Pierce! Wow. I still think our answer lies in an organized paper drop at the door of A2.com....a giant pile of trash in front of their headquarters might make them realize it's ain't per-tee!
However, the question I have is....do they actually HAVE headquarters anymore? Or do they drive around in an RV?
:-)

Steve,

I don't know why cities and townships have to 'PUT UP' with this trash and question 'WHY' don't they just add a flier to their water bills (or other distributions like Neigh. Watch Newsletters) to inform their residents that they have an option to OPT OUT. It's like they're afraid to inform their taxpaying residents of the actual situation, my initial e-mail to those in YT questioned if they were getting KICK-BACKS to tolerate this garbage. Within 4 days Brenda S had the distribution stopped in my area.

I directed another YT resident who was tired of it to Brenda S a week or so ago and this resident received an apologetic phone call from Tony Dearing the other day.

LR

Judy,

They sure aren't 'JOURNALISTS' are they?

They aren't supported by a reading public, otherwise we'd still have the AA News, therefore, they fall within the nasty realm of telemarketers and the like, huh?

LR

Luther, It sure is a disappointment for me. I had high hopes. I guess as a lifetime Ypsilanti dweller, life hasn't been the same since the Ypsilanti Press died (or more accurately put, was murdered by the Ann Arbor News).
So now not only do I not get daily Ypsilanti news in a paper form, but I get the ads from the A2dotcom paper on my front yard adding insult to injury.

It was registered at a forum to tell to you thanks for the help in this question, can, I too can help you something?

I would also add pizza fliers.

Instead of posting on this board take your complaints to the mayor at the monthly meeting. Demand a date and time for these to be fixed. If nothing happen remember this mayor at election time. Go to the paper. Make a stink.

32 votes. This must really be an issue with alot of people.

Good luck, I had to complain to my Ypsilanti township supervisor and she did stop the deliveries of such oin my area.

I also have a complaint about DTE Energy meter readers as stated below.

Why can DTE Energy meter readers trespass AT-WILL any time to get a meter reading? Is this a benefit of basically being a monopoly and doing whatever they want whenever and if you don't like it TRY to get another electric/gas provider? One's DTE bill reads for example "your scheduled meter read date is on or around Feb 23,2012." I lock my backyard gate for security purposes, but based on the above date of the 23rd (a Thursday), I leave the gate unlocked on the 22nd (W), 23rd(Th) and 24th (F) between 8AM and 5PM. They arrived on the 21st, gate locked, and took the ungaledl liberty to climb the fence when I was sitting in the living room watching TV, fifteen feet fromt he front door, and the reader didn't Knock or ring the doorbell. If they would destroy anything we ALL know they'd just leave quickly not wanting to take any responsibility.
It shouldn't be my responsibility to leave my gate unlocked for a complete week for a 20-second reading, a process that has occurred here since 1959, therefore they should easily be able to meet the three-day window I provide based on their date of the 23rd. But if they don't they just take the liberty to jump the fence without any contact. My bills have been paid at least two weeks prior to due date for many-many years on the internet. I don't desire reading my own meter having poor vision and being legally blind.

Is there some special commissions or boards that I can contact to address this issue.

http://gasoundsyndicate.com/modules/boonex/blogs/blogs.php?action=my_page&mode=main

AnnArbor.com says they promise not to deliver newspapers that are unsolicited and if you get a paper and you don't want it to please call their Subscriber Services Manager at 734-926-4555, toll-free at 888-922-2472 or email subscriberservices@annarbor.com