BID To Graffiti Artists: We Will Break Your Will

In an attempt to break the will of local graffiti artists and improve the look and morale of the community, the Huntington Station Business Improvement District announced the start of a new graffiti removal program Monday.

Spearheaded by Town Board member Susan Berland, the pilot program allows for Brooklyn-based City Solve, Inc. to clean graffiti from any surface on any property located within the Huntington Station Business Improvement District's overlay district. 

With an inventory of every piece of graffiti in the bid, the company will clean all graffiti that they have identified within the BID beginning Friday. Individuals who own graffiti-damaged property were notified about the pilot program by mail last month, according to the town which gave them the option to opt out of the program.

City Solve representatives say consistency is key in the fight against graffiti.

"When you do a one-time cleaning without maintainance it's a waste of money," said City Solve President Bruce Pienkny. "Once you start an orchestrated maintainance program, these people give up. The whole key is to break their will."

The press conference featured a demonstration of the graffiti removal process using a specialized City Solve, Inc. truck on a wall of a building and a nearby fence located on the 600 block of Depot Road.

Station BID President Keith Barrett said he will start an ongoing list for anyone wanting to be included in the program. He said he is looking forward to trying the program to see how it works.

"If it's works we'll continue it," said Barrett.

According to Barrett, the Huntington Station BID will use budgeted funds from property taxes of members to pay for the program. "It's a property tax, it's on their tax bill."

Berland said graffitti perpetuates crime and creates blight which can have a serious impact on the moral of a community.

"We're here today to combat that," said Berland. "This removal program is going to be a vital component in the success of the revitalization of Huntington Station."