Graffiti, Linden
LINDEN — Every time the fence at Nobel Equipment and Rental along Routes 1 and 9 is repainted white to cover the graffiti, the markings return within about a week.
Even with the new paint job, some faded graffiti markings still are visible along the fence.
“Every time I see white paint on sale, I buy it,” said Joe Kulpa, president of Nobel Equipment, 1920 E. Edgar Road, who estimates the fence is painted about 50 times a year. “It makes you sick,” said Donald Ogonowski, company operations manager.
Councilwoman Michele Yamakaitis, who represents the 8th Ward, where graffiti has been a problem, said the stretch along Routes 1 and 9, also known as Edgar Road, from the Elizabeth border to the Rahway border, has become “a real hot spot” for graffiti tag marks.
“It seems they are attacking the highway,” Yamakaitis said. Both businesses and homes have been tagged.
She said the owner of a large warehouse on the highway spends about $600 every other month to cover the graffiti on the building. Under city ordinances, property owners have 90 days from the date they receive a city notice to remove graffiti. Failure to comply can result in a summons, according to the ordinance.
“People have to look at it. It’s embarrassing,” she said.
Yamakaitis said the neighborhood needs a consistent police patrol presence, something for which she’s begged.
“I’m trying to get police to do more patrols. It’s not fair to residents, and businesses that are trying to attract business. We need to send a message you will be caught,” said Yamakaitis, who pointed out graffiti made with a marker on a resident’s fence.
Mayor Richard Gerbounka said graffiti has become an epidemic in that neighborhood but he believes there are sufficient police patrols.
He said there have been three graffiti arrests this year, one by police and two based on information from residents. He encouraged residents to report any suspicious activity they see.
Two 22-year-old Kenilworth men were arrested early July 29 after allegedly painting graffiti on top of the Morristown Erie railroad bridge. Police found backpacks with spray paint as well as a paint roller in a puddle of white paint.
