City ordinance restricts newspaper boxes downtown

After declining to help purchase one large box that would accommodate several newspapers, the Chattanooga Times Free Press may have to go to the expense of purchasing its own newspaper rack.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously agreed Tuesday night to the second and final reading of an ordinance that would regulate news racks downtown and make the big red one, owned by Chattanooga Times Free Press located outside McMinnville Post Office, in violation.

The agreement came after being assured by legal council the ordinance would be upheld, if contested.

A copy of the new ordinance will now be sent to the newspaper. The newspaper will have 30 days to remove the box or replace it with one that is in accordance with the ordinance.

?The new ordinance mainly deals with that area of town,? said Mayor Royce Davenport after being questioned about where the ordinance restricts newspaper sales. ?They can move it to privately owned property or an area outside the revitalized area. We don?t want to stop people from buying the newspaper, but we do want to preserve downtown.?

If the box is not removed or replaced in 30 days, notice of violation will be sent. Seven days after they receive the notice, the box can be removed. If the news rack is not claimed within 30 days, the property will be considered abandoned and will be disposed of and the Chattanooga Times Free Press will be responsible for the cost of removal and storage.

The new ordinance gives Public Works director Bill Brock the responsibility of enforcing the ordinance, including removal of any news racks that are in violation.