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R5J NewsracksUnsightly Newsracks: A Blight on our City Common Uses of Newsstand Boxes ●Used as trash cans ●Used to store personal belongings ●Used for drug transactions ●Used for pet waste ●Used for tagging Graffiti Safety Concerns ●Cut and trip hazards ●Unnecessary sidewalk obstructions ●Health hazards ●Broken Windows Theory:Vandalism encourages more crime and disorder Miami Times Newsracks Miami New Times Newsrack Locations On Public Property On Private Property North Beach 35 10 Mid Beach 19 36 South Beach 111 84 Total 165 130 Source: Miami New Times website Miami Beach Historic Districts ★About half the New Times newsracks within historic districts are located on private property, and will remain unaffected.★Neglected & abandoned newsracks on the public right- of-way don’t fit it with the overall aesthetic and design of historic districts.★Approximately ¾ of newsracks on the public right-of-way are located within historic districts. Miami Beach Historic Districts Financial Impact of Newsstand Boxes ●Very little income is generated for the city ($25 per box per year) ●Total of $4,125 per year based on current estimates ●Boxes are neglected by the owners ●City currently pays for all removal and disposal costs of destroyed newsstand boxes (labor and fees to unbolt, remove, and properly dispose of the boxes) Environmental Impacts ●Waste of paper –Content is available online ●Print readership is low ●Most newspapers are not recycled Conclusion Due to the neglect and dilapidated condition of many of the Miami New Times newsracks, the City has a compelling interest to remove the affected newsracks from the public right-of-way and further regulate the existing newsracks.