Grapevine: NYC wants it in writing and the bill isn't small

City government wasted $1.2 million hand-delivering copies of legal papers, despite free e-mail system

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine…

Large Print

The Big Apple wants it in writing -- you can hold in your hands -- and for that the bill is not small.

The New York Post reports -- city government has wasted $1.2 million in the past five years -- hand-delivering hard copies of legal papers -- even though a free electronic system is available.

The City Law Department says e-mail is too confusing because there are often multiple lawyers working on the same case at different times.

The head of the state court's e-mail system disagrees -- saying private law firms use electronic systems successfully.

One private lawyer expressed his frustrations -- quote --

"It seems like a concerted effort to be inefficient and financially irresponsible -- like they are going out of their way to be wasteful."

Fall Cleaning?

Michigan lawmakers are trying to undo their predecessors work.

A bundle of bills repealing 80 outdated -- and rarely enforced -- laws has passed the House and is headed to the state Senate.

If passed -- cursing in front of women or children -- would no longer be a misdemeanor and a $750 fine.

The bill would remove a ban on certain endurance contests -- like walk-a-thons.

And you would be free to mock someone who refuses a challenge to a duel without penalty.

The bill's goal is to lessen over-criminalization -- plus reduce costs and strain on the judicial system.

All Is Well

Finally -- NASA wants you to remain calm, no not about the stock market today.

About the possibility that a space rock will destroy the planet next month.

NASA says it’s not going to happen.

In a press release titled -- There is No Asteroid Threatening Earth -- the space agency addresses social media rumors predicting a September impact.

Quote -- "There is no existing evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial object is on a trajectory that will impact Earth.

In fact -- not a single one of the known objects has any credible chance of hitting our planet over the next century."

When possible Grapevine always likes to start the week with some good news.