Individuals and small businesses who make use of posters to reach the U of T and greater city community can breathe easier as debate on a controversial postering ban in the city of Toronto was delayed until September.
The council took over four hours to debate the issue. Councillors voted 21 to 17 to revisit the motion in four months. Councillor Adam Giambrone proposed the motion. “Perhaps we can spend millions in a better way that will benefit the city.”
The slog showed how long the city has been feuding over the issue: the proposal has continually been delayed since it was first introduced in May 2001. Even Mayor David Miller was away for all but 15 minutes of the debate.
Throughout the debate, council brought up such seemingly insignificant concerns as the cost of removing glued on vs. taped posters. But they notably neglected to mention much about the real people that would be affected by such a change.
How many times have you been involved with a community fundraiser? Have you ever sublet your apartment, or offered tutoring services to gain some quick cash? Did you rely on posting small notices around the city? For many low-budget community or student groups, postering is often the main, if not only option, because it is cost-effective. Just a look at Sid Smith bulletin boards tells much about the prevalence of postering on campus.
Jordan Bimm, a third-year American Studies student, promotes his band, Debaser, with posters every month. Although posters may only provide 20 to 30 per cent of the band’s audience, they promote the band in the music community as well as the city. “The best form of advertising in general is postering,” he said. “Posters can have an impact because they let people know that you exist. What direction our city is heading in if we take a voice away from young artists?”
However, many councillors, especially from the former city of North York, feel that posters are an eyesore and deter tourists. The proposal included banning posters that were over 22 x 28 centimetres in size. Posters referring to the same information would have to be posted at least 100 metres apart, and a name and phone number for the group organizing the event would need to be included. The proposed bylaw forces the acceptable posters to be posted on collars, plastic brackets on hydro poles designed specifically as a backing for posters. Also proposed was a system (similar to our SAC elections) where the advertiser would pay a small fee for a stamp. The ban would have excluded garage sales, lost kitten signs, and the like.
“If the postering ban was implemented, I would start putting flyers on cars or mailboxes,” said Kelly McCarthy, who promotes her home-based jewellery company Pink Lotus Designs in Etobicoke. She estimates that 40 per cent of her business is generated from posters. “Postering is the only form [of advertising] I currently use,” she said. Other forms of advertising “would be more than I can afford. Magazines and others are not an option.”
Giambrone pointed out that the ban would treat smaller businesses inequitably.
Not all small business owners agree. “Referrals save overhead costs of advertising,” said Giovanna Bonomo, a Private Language Consultant who freelances as an English language teacher. “Posters cause litter and waste paper,” she said. She promotes her courses through student referrals, and has never postered. “In a field such as private education, a poster does not exemplify the quality of the service offered,” she explained.
Posters will be put on the back burner for now, until Mayor Miller, who has opposed the ban, develops an alternate solution that will allow postering in September.
