Heather Trim

There was disappointing news a couple of months ago on Seattle residents’ right to say no to yellow pages directories. As reported in the Seattle Times, the city settled a lawsuit over an enormously popular law that created an “opt-out” system for phone books. While the newspaper headline focused on the cost of the settlement, the real story is that so many people opted out in 2011. The first year the ordinance was in effect, phone book deliveries were down by 1 million from the prior year. People were happy to have a choice, to finally be able to say “no thanks” to phone books they didn’t want, rather than tossing them into their recycling bins. By fining directory companies who failed to comply, the city's law made choice a reality. That’s why it’s frustrating that the city gave up the fight.