On Monday, Columbus City Council proposed a ban on porch couches and will likely vote on the issue June 6. The introduction of the ban is not a new issue.
Conversation about outlawing the porch ornaments began after the 2002 Michigan riots, according to a Thursday Columbus Dispatch article. The debate intensified after the deaths of five students in a fire off-campus in April 2003, according to the article.
Research conducted by graduate students in a city-planning class in April 2003 showed that 11 percent of households in the University District had porch furniture that would be included in the potential ban.
The official legislation was filed over a year ago at the City Council clerk’s office.
Columbus already has a code prohibiting couches in yards, and the proposed ban would put the same restrictions on porches. The possible penalties for not complying could include up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
Although the main purpose of the ban is fire prevention, porch couches also promote varment infestation, according to the article. The ban is intended to increase the quality of the neighborhoods in the university district as a whole.
In the wake of the riots and fires on campus, change seems necessary. Other schools including the University of Colorado and Miami University already have bans, according to The Dispatch, and Miami claims its ban has been successful.
While couches provide additional seating for students on porches and allow for a more relaxed feel to off-campus homes, recent events have demonstrated couches and flammable items on porches raise safety concerns.
Even though the fine of $500 or 60 days in jail seems severe, having a harsh sentence sends the message this issue is important and students should obey the law. If there were a lighter punishment, students would be more willing to dismiss the law and continue to keep illegal furniture on their porches. The University District is a large area, and police cannot be constantly issuing tickets to offenders. Doing so would take them away from more important matters in the residential area.
This law is needed and students should abide by the restriction if it passes City Council. The law increases the safety of students living in the University District.
