Stoop sale sign ripper

Has anyone seen this guy? He's white, got a slight build, knobby knees, usually wearing a large gardener's hat?

This past weekend I was walking back from the gym and he was going to every street post and tearing down people's Stoop Sale signs. What's the deal? I was going to confront him but I was already late and he has the sort of weasely little face that makes you immediately dislike him. He walked up 7th street between 6th and 7th Ave. I'm not sure if he lives there or was off to rip down other people's signs.

And these were for stoop sales that were currently happening... this really pisses me off. What gives him the right? If a cop comes and rips a sign down because it's illegal to be on city property- that's one thing (and they have better shit to do than waste time doing this) but when some one man army thinks he knows what's better for all of us-- that's F'd up.

That guy's been doing that on 7th Ave for as long as I can remember. He does it to all postings, not just stoop sales. I think he may be mentally ill.

He's old right? I've seen old people in Soho and Union Square doing the same thing. Must be a cult.

There was a thread here awhile back where someone was annoyed by them and ripped them down, but I don't think it was in Park Slope.

I once saw someone really get in his face on the corner of Park Place and 7th over a sign he ripped off.

I don't quite know how I'd react if he did that to me. Maybe the ol' Cuban temper would show up.

Guess What! This guy does a public service. it is flatly illegal to post on public property and i'm not interested in all that junk (which usually ends up as- "free stuff") trying to be pawned off. (nor in the millionth "lost cat").
Rip away!

ParkslopeCynic wrote: Guess What! This guy does a public service. it is flatly illegal to post on public property and i'm in interested in all that junk (which usually ends up as- "free stuff) trying to be pawned off. (nor in the millionth "lost cat").
Rip away!

Wow, are you going to knock over a lemonade stand next?

Brooklyn Baby Daddy wrote: [quote=ParkslopeCynic]Guess What! This guy does a public service. it is flatly illegal to post on public property and i'm in interested in all that junk (which usually ends up as- "free stuff) trying to be pawned off. (nor in the millionth "lost cat").
Rip away!

Wow, are you going to knock over a lemonade stand next?

Seriously..

These things are hardly an eyesore, and I think they have really good value in the community. It's one of the things I love so much about PS: on almost every block there's usually some old item sitting out against the gate, discarded by the owner, but offered to whoever might find value in it. I've found quite a few things of value myself, and have given other away in the same manner as well. There's no better way to recycle a still-useful item.

Most of these stoop sales are the same. No one is in it for the money. They don't sit on their stoop all day waiting in the hot summer weekend sun just to pocket the few bucks they make when they could be doing more lucrative things. They're doing it as a service to their fellow neighbors, and to exchange their old, useless stuff for something slightly more useful (a couple dollars). I've met some great people this way, and it's a real value to the community.

the best signs are written in chalk on sidewalks.

ParkslopeCynic wrote: Guess What! This guy does a public service. it is flatly illegal to post on public property and i'm not interested in all that junk (which usually ends up as- "free stuff") trying to be pawned off. (nor in the millionth "lost cat").
Rip away!

your grammar and punctuation sucks.

Since when did a community plea for help finding a lost cat or a friendly notice about a stoop sale constitute a public nuisance? Sheesh. If the signs were getting plastered on peoples' front doors it would be a problem (much like the multitude of menus and car service business cards that get shoves in our doors every day), but some 8 1/2 x 11 posters?

Okay, so here's the deal. It is illegal to post any signs (commercial or not) on public property (which includes lamposts). For commercial signs (including campaign posters) there is a ridiculous fine per sign if you are caught. For non-commercial postings, the city usually turns a blind eye, but at best you are subject to having sanitation or some other city entity (or crazy old guy) rip them down.

Learned this the hard way, working on a political campaign where volunteers plastered the neighborhood lamposts. The opponents volunteers then called sanitation to report the act and we were told to remove all signs by the time sanitation sent out an inspector or be subject to the fine per sign (I want to say it was something like $100 per sign). Needless to say, I've kept my flyering to private business willing to hang signs since then.

Well...having the DEP come and take down political posters is...well, political (reminds me of season 4 of the wire when the mayor tickets, rips up the sidewalk, and generally uses the city to harass his opponent).

But stoop sale signs handmade by some kids or a family...this is what police are gonna care about? Not likely. Who is it hurting? I've made great friends with my neighbors during stoop sales...neighbors who I probably would have only given a cursory nod to otherwise. I think making friends with strangers is a better community service than keeping lampposts clean on the weekend.

I'd love to confront this guy but then I fear the police would get involved because I'd lose my temper with his obstinate self-righteousness.

Wonder if the guy is OCD or autistic - maybe he NEEDS to take the signs down, for his own neurological reasons.

ParkslopeCynic wrote: Guess What! This guy does a public service. it is flatly illegal to post on public property and i'm not interested in all that junk (which usually ends up as- "free stuff") trying to be pawned off. (nor in the millionth "lost cat").
Rip away!

I agree!

How many stoop sale signs are taken down by the stoop salers after the stoop sale? Answer: Zero!

I wonder if I can get him to rip down all the new parking signs.

J0518 wrote: your grammar and punctuation sucks.

Here's a tip: If you're going to ridicule someone else's punctuation and grammar, make sure your own is up to snuff.

MeredithB wrote: [quote=ParkslopeCynic]Guess What! This guy does a public service. it is flatly illegal to post on public property and i'm not interested in all that junk (which usually ends up as- "free stuff") trying to be pawned off. (nor in the millionth "lost cat").
Rip away!

I agree!

How many stoop sale signs are taken down by the stoop salers after the stoop sale? Answer: Zero!

C'mon, but this stuff, stoop sales, their amateurish, often child-made signs, these are what make a neigborhood a homey, close-knit feeling place to live. At least for me. Also I love stoop sales, so I appreciate learning where they are.

And how can you be upset at people trying to get back their cat?

The guy in question lives on 8th Ave, just North of Dizzy's. He is obviously a mentally challenged person, but otherwise a harmless and non-threatening individual.

I, too, think he does a public service - only because the people who feel free to put the posters up never take them down. And what better life lesson to teach those children who hand-make the posters than the value of cleaning up after yourself [-X

Now, does he throw them out? Maybe he has a collection in hopes that one day they will be worth millions.

Or maybe not.

I think it is great he is doing it.
It is the people that put them up that should be criticized and confronted.
It is illegal and city spent plenty of money trying to fix up 5th avenue and smith street and the sign posters deface it. THey have to repaint the lightposts because the tape often mars them.
I take them down from Smith street any time I pass them.

I saw him a couple of Fridays ago..

I tried to reason with the guy saying that stoop sales are one of the great things about Brooklyn. "It's illegal," was his response.

I'd wish he'd dial up his meds so it wouldn't bother him so much. Or, do it on Mondays, then everyone will be happy.

Well, I guess we don't all see eye to eye on this one. As I've said, a town without home-made signs seems to me kind of sterile and lifeless. But, hey, at least we'd have lovely, virgin lamp posts.

I'm sure it isn't your 'quaint' stoop sales signs being singled out ...but the moving company, carpet cleaning, etc, etc, etc - That get plastered everywhere.

A bunch of years ago, the NoHo community got fed up.
Suddenly a bunch of Bands got fined for putting up a gig poster on Bleecker St.

While i think it stupid, technically the gardener dude is right.
i certainly didnt appreciate it when i saw him tear down posters for instruction. But i figured that was better than the police actually fining myself and everyone else . And once he was gone i put up more anyway

Nope, he takes a scorched earth policy with flyers.

The part that gets me is that he was doing it on a Friday. He just had to show up those stoop sales.

It is illegal to post signs on lamposts/etc. - Once when I was posting signs for some items for sale because I was moving, a guy approached me and asked if I was going to take them down after they were sold...I said I was, and I did. So, even though it's "illegal" - I have no problem with the signs...but I do think folks should take them down once their sale is over.

I always take down my signs...it's part of the contract for me. I don't think this guy has a mental problem, I think he's an asshole.

If he was a decent fellow and he HAD to take them down- he could do it Sunday evening after the sales are over. Someday he's going to rip down the wrong person's sign and see what real mental problems are like.

Underhill_MT wrote: Since when did a community plea for help finding a lost cat or a friendly notice about a stoop sale constitute a public nuisance? Sheesh.

Agreed.

And I have seen this sign ripper too. He sucks. I'd like to see if he recycles the paper. Isn't it illegal not to in NYC? Fuck him.

Some stores will let you put a stack of flyers in them.

Subject: Regarding "Lost Cats"

The point is people repeatedly post this lost cat appeal. When will owners learn some responsibilty and keep their cat indoors- where they belong!