Cleaning Up Woodhaven Again
With warmer days upon is, it’s time for the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) to hit the streets and stamp out graffiti again.
Last summer, we launched an effort to eliminate vandalism on mailboxes and fire call boxes throughout the neighborhood. With the help of numerous volunteers we painted over graffiti on this public property.
But what really made our effort successful was our emphasis on careful record-keeping and frequent follow ups. We systematically checked each mailbox and fire call box regularly to see whether they had been retagged, and if they had been, we painted them again.
Though we needed to hit some boxes multiple times to fend off the frequent vandalism, we didn’t give up, and by the end of the summer, we managed to keep the large majority of mailboxes graffiti-free. Not only did we reduce the number of eyesores in our community (and yes, this vandalism consists of ugly scribbles, not thoughtful art), but we also sent a signal that those who care about the community and following the law will prevail.
In addition, we met many neighbors and introduced them to the WRBA’s work on behalf of Woodhaven.
Our graffiti clean-up effort was one of our most noteworthy successes last year.
As the weather grew colder, we took a break from these clean-up runs. Unsurprisingly, the vandals seized the opportunity to deface public property again.
So we’ll be back at it, redoubling our efforts. Our most immediate goal for the months ahead is to eliminate graffiti completely from mailboxes and fire call boxes in Woodhaven, and to keep it gone through the end of the summer and, perhaps, beyond.
Once again, we can’t do this without the help of neighbors and volunteers. So we’re asking you to join us in Phase 2 of our fight against public vandalism. It’s easy to get involved.
Call us at 1-718-296-3735, and if nobody answers, leave a voicemail with your contact info. Or type this website address into your internet browser (without the period at the end) and fill out the form: bit.ly/CleanWoodhaven.
We’re planning a series of cleanup tours consisting of teams of four or five residents. We’ll provide the paint and the brushes, so all you have to bring is yourself (and a friend or neighbor, if you’d like). It’s more fun than you might expect, and it leaves you with a real sense of accomplishment. Even if you’ve never even encountered the WRBA before, don’t be deterred; we’re a welcoming, inclusive group.
Some residents have wondered why the WRBA bothers with this when it’s just a matter of time before the mailboxes and fire call boxes will be vandalized again. That’s like asking why the city should bother paving roads when they’re just going to develop potholes again in the future: Yes, the problem might recur, but there’s value in minimizing its negative impact and in postponing its return.
And each time a road is paved or a mailbox is cleaned, we’re better off. Our streets look better and property values are less likely to be hurt.
For those concerned that we’re just providing fresh canvas for vandals, it’s worth remembering that whenever we clean a mailbox, someone attempting to re-tag it runs the risk of getting caught.
The law is on our side, as is time-because it’s only a matter of time before those illegally wielding spray-paint cans are caught. In fact, our careful record-keeping even led to additional charges against one known vandal.
We look forward to cleaning up Woodhaven again, and we invite you to join us in our fight.
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Editor’s note: Blenkinsopp is member of Community Board 9 and director of communications for the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association. For additional information on the WRBA, visit www.woodhavennyc.org.
