C-J files lawsuit to continue littering: rapacious capitalists and enemies of the environment?!

From Dan Klepal in the C-J...

I thought the C-J'ers were environmentally-friendly...

The Courier-Journal filed a lawsuit Monday against Louisville metro government over an anti-litter ordinance that the newspaper says violates constitutional protections of free speech and the press.

The ordinance, passed by the Metro Council earlier this month and signed Thursday by Mayor Jerry Abramson, requires that unsolicited written materials delivered to Jefferson County homes be placed in specific areas and not tossed into a front yard or driveway.

Those approved places are in a distribution box; on a front porch; securely attached to the front door; placed through a mail slot; placed between the exterior and interior front doors; or left personally with the owner.

The law takes effect Aug. 25.

While the ordinance would affect anyone delivering fliers or other printed materials, it was prompted by Courier-Journal advertising supplements. The newspaper delivers some 340,000 copies of the supplements weekly.

The ordinance does not apply to delivery of the newspaper itself since it goes to subscribers.

Attorney Jon Fleischaker, who represents The Courier-Journal, said the ordinance violates First Amendment guarantees of free speech and press and the Eighth Amendment because it imposes potentially "excessive" fines....

The only part of this complaint that seems reasonable is about the "excessive fines".

Jon, it doesn't violate your free speech or press-- any more than me throwing a turd at David Hawpe's house inappropriately restricts my free speech.

In a May 28 letter to the Metro Council, Fleischaker wrote that if the newspaper were required to deliver all supplements to a porch or front door "it would no longer be able to distribute them at all," which would deprive residents of information and small businesses of a way to reach potential customers.

Here, the C-J comes off as a greedy capitalist-- wanting to maximize profits and unconcerned about its negative impact on the community and the environment. Hilarious!