New signs set for Belle Harbor

Following a joint effort by Councilmembers Joseph Addabbo and Anthony Weiner and Assemblymember Audrey Pfeffer, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to replace damaged street signs in Belle Harbor.
Much of the signage in the neighborhood has been defaced by graffiti, faded by the sun or fallen off, much to the chagrin of locals.
A number of Belle Harbor residents have complained about “a loss of parking in front of their homes,” as well as being issued parking tickets at locations where signs are missing or have been damaged, said Addabbo.
The issue has become especially problematic during the summer, when more visitors flock to the beachside community. “Without these signs giving a clear indication of the rules and regulations, a lot of people take advantage,” noted Addabbo. “If people are issued a ticket for a sign that’s faded, they have a valid argument to argue the ticket.”
Efforts to replace the damaged street signs in Belle Harbor were stepped up last year, following complaints made by constituents to Addabbo’s office, as well as to Weiner’s.
According to DOT spokesperson Craig Chin, a request to replace the signs was sent to the DOT by Weiner on behalf of the Belle Harbor community. As a result, Chin said that the DOT conducted a survey of all the streets in the area and expects to “have all the sign work be completed by this October.”
Addabbo praised the DOT for recognizing the need to put up new signage, noting that a majority of the street signs have probably not been replaced for nearly a decade. He said that the new signs would clear up confusion among local residents and help them understand the rules and regulations, as well as assist police officers of the 100th Precinct in enforcing them.
“It can cause traffic accidents to occur, problems with the police precinct handing out tickets to cars who might be illegally parked and they just don’t know about it, with signs missing from the poles,” added Belle Harbor resident John Signorelli.
While Addabbo noted that the damaged signs may not be a “dramatic issue,” he hailed the success of the three-way effort as an indication that three levels of government can come together to adequately respond to the needs of their constituents.
An estimated 55 new signs are scheduled to be erected by next summer.