Chain-smoking, half-hoarse “newsies” may have long disappeared from our city streets, but that doesn’t mean that paper distribution can’t still be a nuisance.  Enter the “Publication Vending Device” – more commonly referred to as the newspaper rack.

Tonight, Decatur’s City Commission will vote on the recommendation of City Planner Amanda Thompson to toughen Section 86 of the city code regarding “Publication Vending Devices”.

According to Thompson there are a few major changes to the code…

The primary differences between the current and proposed ordinance include indentification of specific areas of the city where the publication vending devices will be allowed as shown on the map titled “Publication Vending Device Area”, limiting the permit to one year instead of a permit that never expires, and requiring vendors to purchase standardized devices from a list of acceptable vendors.

If the amendment passes, look for your alt-weeklies/real estate mags/dispatches at the locations in the map below and nowhere else.

I really hope that one of the “standardized devices” is a cardboard box, because otherwise my brilliant strategy of selling daily copies of DM in front of the Old Courthouse will be ruined.

Click here for tonight’s full commission meeting agenda and supporting materials, which also include votes on purchasing a new front loader & dump truck, along with awarding a bid on building two pedestrian bridges at Hidden Cove Park.