Are Balloons Tied to A Parking Meter Illegal?

It seems that the place of my employment is guilty of a quality of life crime.

No, not of the life-sucking variety.

The crime of tying balloons to a parking meter .
Now, I don't know about you, but I am personally mortified when I see balloons tied to a parking meter.

Okay, here's how the alleged "crime" goes down (please, don't try this at home):
the store gets ready to open (insert some suspense music here, it's okay)
the opening procedure list comes out (uh,oh)
one of the items on the list is "blow up 3 balloons and tie to meter in front of store" (insert drum roll)
Oh no, you say. Yes, this is on the list.
The rest of the list is too boring to mention (for now)
Balloons go up.
Okay, crime complete (Ta DA).
On with the day!

Okay, so nothing sounds too criminal yet. True. My place of employment has had this bad habit of tying the balloons to the meter in front for over 30 years.Hmm, you say. Me too!

Here's the lowdown about how we find out that our criminal activity has been noticed.

Yesterday, a gentleman called the shop, identifying himself as Jack Sween (Sweeney?) of the Community Clean-up Committee (please forgive me Jack for possibly not getting your name right) .
Okay, so?
Yadayadayada.....blah,blah,blah.....so I told the guy to call our office phone and speak directly to the owner, since this is owner-related and not sales-related.
Twice repeated what I just said and gentleman caller keeps talking.

Well, you know I naturally am fascinated with what the guy is talking about.

Subject: Illegal Balloons
Memo: None
Me: Are you kidding me? Or in other words...WTF

Subject Part 2: Quality of Life Issue (Yup, the balloons)
Me:(again) WTF

Okay, I have issues which have to do with Quality of Life. Honestly, I've never had an issue with a balloon.

So, because gentleman caller felt the need to discuss business that was not mine with me. I had the need to discuss issues that were mine with him. (insert big smile here) I was in fact quite happy to do this.

Here's the discussion: (after the balloon nonsense)
Me: Quality of life issues I have (balloons not included)(only listing a couple here)
a) just this morning I had to walk over a person sleeping in my doorway.
b) usually have to pick up my dog in the street so that he doesn't step on the glass , syringes ,human feces, food leftovers, vomit,etc. on our morning walk.
c)being accosted time after time by people asking for money or cigarettes
d)witnessing various acts of criminal activity , as in drug selling, prostitution,etc.
e)witnessing crack use and syringe users on my doorstep
I'll stop here.

So, Mr. Jack (caller) says that if I am having problems with these quality of life issues I should be calling 311 to report them.

Okay, Mr. Jack, then what ?

Mr. Jack says that the volunteers over at 311 will "work on it" .

I personally have called 911 when a person was trying to get into my building, and they didn't respond. (the person did get into the building and refused to leave until he had a police escort) We, the building residents were in fact trying to work on that (without cooperation).

I know someone who called 911 to report massive amounts of crackheads (on one of the various crackhead corners that are located throughout our fine city) which happened to be the front of this persons building. There was usage and selling of the above named product.
Response=none
Person who called's response to 911 people= "you mean it is legal to do this?"
Yup! Guess so.

Mr. Jack, when told where I lived, and after hearing my actual quality of life grievances, mentioned that when he went through my area, what stood out in his mind was the graffiti.
Are you blind? Or are you brainwashed?
Mr. Jack seems to think everything that I complained about in my area seems to be the direct result of the graffiti.
So, I mentioned the abandoned property and the low lighting features in my area. Mr. Jack, don't you think this contributes to the fine aspects which I have clearly complained about?
Nope.
So people, here's what it all means:

If you have a problem with a balloon on your parking meter call 311, they will respond. Seems to be true of graffiti too (according to Mr. Jack).
If your call relates to other , possibly things of a more serious nature,well....they will try to get to it.

To all the balloons out there:
Run for your lives !!

Just a note: the above mentioned balloons do not contain advertising on them and they are removed from parking meter at the end of the work day. The balloon remains are disposed of properly.