Today, graffiti is considered vandalism. Defacing property without the property owner’s consent or a township’s consent is punishable by law. Lakewood Township Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein, on behalf of the entire Township Committee, has been working closely with the Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood Public Works, and the Lakewood Inspection Department to spearhead a campaign to combat graffiti and rid the town of it. For the next few weeks, Committeeman Lichtenstein is asking people to call the Quality of Life Hotline (732-942-5003) to report any graffiti they see in public places, right of ways, and public buildings, such as libraries, schools, municipal buildings, community centers, telephone poles, and utility boxes, for example.
With the help of the Ocean County Freeholders and the Ocean County Corrections Department, Lakewood’s campaign to combat graffiti is moving ahead. On June 14, individuals incarcerated in the Ocean County jail will be participating in a work detail to paint over the graffiti and clean up identified graffiti sites.
Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson, says, “We’re are hoping that those who are vandalizing property with graffiti will get discouraged from doing it as a result of this graffiti cleanup program. Of course, if we see anyone doing it, they will be arrested for criminal mischief or damaging people’s property. There can be substantial charges.”
Chief Lawson adds, “Right now I’ve asked Mike Saccomanno from the Inspection Department to give me a list of all the places that have graffiti on them. Police officers will also complete observation memos. In addition, we are asking the residents, themselves, to please call them in to the Quality of Life Hotline if they are aware of locations that have graffiti on them. That way we can make up a list of places to target on our Combat Graffiti Day and get everything cleaned up.”
Committeeman Lichtenstein, who is the liaison to the police and most of emergency service departments in town, says, “Gangs mark their territory with graffiti. We want to send a message that this is OUR town, not a town that belongs to gangs.”
yep, this will work, we shall soon see, i think not
its better to try then doing nothing
You have better ideas? It worked in NYC with Giuliani.
every telephone pole along vermont ave has and some on the sidewalk by vermont and chestnut and vermont and essex