New ‘quality of life’ task force combats graffiti, illegal signage

Illegal advertisements. Unsightly graffiti. Littered roadways.

“There’s nothing more irritating than, at the end of your day, when you’re driving home and you’re looking forward to going home and relaxing with your family, you are greeted at every (utility) pole with an unsightly sign,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “We’ve come up with a concept we are hoping is going to help alleviate some of these concerns.”

That concept includes the creation of a “quality of life” task force. Its motivation is removing illegal ads, graffiti and litter, creating clean communities while preserving the suburban landscape in Hempstead.

One of the more popular signs many neighbors might see, Clavin said, are those advertising they “buy houses, no matter what the cost is.” Yet, the cost for hanging the sign could be a fine, since doing so is against the law. Advertisements for businesses — oftentimes hung on utility poles and street signs — are also included under the umbrella of “illegal signage,” Clavin said, and the town has witnessed an increase in these posters or boards being found all over downtowns.

The town’s code states it is illegal to litter or hang solicitations on “fences, trees, utility poles, or similar supporting devices, or to vacant or unoccupied structures.”

“These men and women (on the task force) are going to go out throughout the town every single day,” Clavin said. “They’re going to target different areas.”

Councilman Chris Carini — who represents a district that encompasses South Shore communities like Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford — has worked hard over the last few years to help neighborhoods remove graffiti from Long Island Rail Road station trestles and other miscellaneous, public use structures, and helped spearhead the quality of life initiative. He says the issue of graffiti and illegal signage has been a regular nuisance to town residents for some time.

“Going back to my years as a civic leader, these illegal signs and graffiti have been a major complaint in our neighborhoods,” Carini told reporters during a Merrick news conference last week. “We’ve seen an increase in graffiti. We’ve seen an increase in the signs. And we’re going to get out in front of this.”

Some of the town’s strongest partners in the creation of the task force were civic and homeowner associations, Clavin said, as well as various chambers of commerce, which work to keep their communities clean, and a place where people want to live.

Joe Baker, past president of the South Merrick Community Civic Association, has been a proponent of the task force. In just three days, Baker said he worked with the Merrick-based group to pull down illegal signs in the area.

“Over the years, we’ve collected hundreds of these,” Baker said. “The quality of life — we want to keep it good. Our motto has always been, ‘Look good, feel good.’ If the community looks good, we feel good.”

Clavin said the task force is just one step to tackling the problem at hand — Carini and other town board members are actively looking at legislation and seeing where adjustments can be made.

Utility companies have offered their support, becoming “very, very willing partners,” Clavin said.

“They understand the concerns. They understand it’s unsightly, and we’ll be changing those laws to strengthen them and fine people for not caring about other people, and where other people live.”

Anyone who wants to report illegal signs, litter or graffiti, can call (516) 489-5000, and ask for their specific council person. They also can post areas of concerns on social media.

“The Town of Hempstead is a great place to live. We want to keep it clean and pristine,” Clavin said. “That’s what this squad is all about.

“Let the cleaning begin.”