Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Junk mail
We get an unbelievable amount of junk mail, I'm sure everyone does...
Has any one tried the 'no junk mail' sticker on their letter box. Does it work?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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I suppose its worth trying, but sadly, even the council concede that this will not affect your delivery of Haringey People.
Preventing the delivery of Haringey People magazine would be the single biggest contribution the council could make towards reducing the flow of the unsolicited, and normally unwanted literature.
And we are paying for it, paying the cost of the council sending us its own propaganda. I think even Pravda was sold!
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Permalink Reply by Abi on
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Don't even get me started on the propaganda rag...I prefer reading the unsolicited missives from local psychics. At least they're not removing funds from our council tax bill to insult our intelligence.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Have you asked them to remove you from the distribution list?
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Nope. Would that in any way affect the amount they spend on producing it? If so (on the assumption that others are likely to be doing the same), I will do that.
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Don't wait for other people. Save trees now.
For local councils or any other organisation, publishing online is one way to make a genuine saving. (As opposed to a euphemism for a cut.) So yes, if the printing and - far more significantly - postal costs are reduced that will save money. In fact I seem to remember suggesting it at a meeting some time ago. Maybe they are doing this? I've emailed to ask.
Out of curiosity, have you an example of a local council elsewhere which you think does a good job with its own magazine/newsletter etc? Or do you think such papers should be banned altogether?
From your profile it seems you live in Seven Sisters ward. So you might also consider expressing your criticisms of Haringey People directly to your ward councillors especially Claire Kober and and Joe Goldberg who are currently calling the shots on the Council. (Or at least they're enjoying the ride on the merry-go-round.) They may or may not be interested in your views. They are certainly interested in your vote.
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor until 2014)
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Friends of mine have complained about the publication of the newsletter per se and have been met with a largely unhelpful response, which is why I haven't done so myself. I know that Claire Kober has defended the publication citing it as an important channel of communication, so as far as I understand it, she would not be overly keen on getting rid. But as you say there is always the option of not receiving it, which in this case is probably the best move.
I don't think any council mag has struck me as being fantastic reading tbh! (I work in journalism and have written local news myself, so I'm probably relatively well placed to judge) so I would rather not be subsidising it wherever I lived. I do understand the potential usefulness of sending out information in this way, but I don't think I've ever learned anything from it - I'd much prefer they concentrated their efforts on ensuring that actual useful communications, such as the leaflet on imminent changes to refuse collection services which I still haven't received, are sent out to people.
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Imagine a dream. You're in a meeting with people who are polite and superficially friendly. You make what you hope are thoughtful, sensible suggestions and comments. Then you realise you're in an echo chamber and they are entirely uninterested in hearing anything but their own views repeated back by loyal sycophants.
The bad news is that it isn't a dream. The good news is that we still have elections. Under pressure they can and do look outside and change their policies and actions.
It's hardly surprising that Cllr Claire Kober defends Haringey People. But as a journalist you'll know that the Internet and other media advertising has dismantled the "business model" which underpinned traditional newspapers. And posed very real problems in getting local news accurately and critically reported. Which local councils do try to tackle how they can.
Independent local newspaper have good journalists. But not enough of them, and they are not resourced properly.
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Alan this is potentially one of your most helpful posts, but it does seem (hopefully) to contradict the council's statement I quoted above. Distributed copies of HP aren't individually addressed, though.
If there is genuinely a way to opt out from the distribution list, I'm sure that many residents (and the planet) would be grateful. I hold out little hope that the Home Secretary's moves to curtail Propaganda on the Rates will be successful.
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Some years ago two people came to the door on behalf of the council, to check that HP was being delivered. I assured them that it was still being delivered and was there any way to stop it please? They seemed a bit taken aback.
Presumably they believe their own propaganda, that HP is the preferred way of receiving "information" from the council, by an overwhelming majority of residents and that everyone should love HP. But eight out of ten cats prefer HP, for reasons you well know.
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Permalink Reply by 29pm8nicntexq on
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I send it back via 'return to sender' and write a comment asking them to stop wasting our money
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Deborah I agree with your motives, but not sure what you mean by "return to sender".
Does the council employ a private contractor to distribute Haringey People or is it delivered by the Royal Mail?
Even if the latter, HP is not individually addressed, its treated by the Royal Mail the same as any other leaflet-type junk-mail.
The council is addicted to their propaganda journal. If there could be a way to return HP to council premises and many did just this, then the council might begin to realise that HP is not loved as much outside River Park House as it is inside.
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I like Haringey People.
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