Photo: QueensPost
Feb. 26, 2011 By Christian Murray
In the past 24 hours, Sunnyside has been blanketed with “for rent signs.”
More than 30 signs have been attached to neighborhood lampposts that direct people to call a Jackson Heights rental agency—or go to its website. Few corners of the neighborhood have been spared, as residential streets on both sides of the boulevard have been bombarded with them.
Signs were spotted from 47th Avenue through to Barnett Avenue.
The signs were erected by Acapulco Rentals, which is located at 88-18 Roosevelt Ave., according to New York State records. The chairman or CEO is identified as Maria A Gallego of Jackson Heights.
The owner of the rental agency is breaking the law by posting the signs, legal experts say, and if the city enforced the rules each sign would result in a $75-$300 fine.
A manager for Acapulco Rentals acknowledged the placement of the signs during a telephone interview. When asked about his plans to remove them, he said, “There is nothing I can do about that.” After being told that they were against the law, he responded by saying “goodbye” and hung up.
But two Sunnysiders, Carole Vance and her husband, Larry, did not want to rely on the city or anyone else to take them down. Instead, with a ladder and a crowbar in hand, they took it upon themselves to knock them down.
“They are annoying, visual pollution,” Carole said. “I just noticed them today and I guess you could make a crusade out of it.”
Larry, who was carrying six signs that he had pulled down near Skillman Avenue, was headed towards 45th Street near Barnett to remove several more.
Carole, when informed the signs were littered throughout the neighborhood, shrugged and said “I guess people in those areas are going to have to bring them down too.”
