Forest Hills Volunteer Group Cleans Up Graffiti From Local Businesses

FOREST HILLS, NY — A crew of volunteers is hitting the streets of Forest Hills to wipe away its graffiti.

The Forest Hills & Rego Park Graffiti Cleanup Initiative — founded by state Assembly candidate Michael Conigliaro and Michael Perlman — brought together a small group of community members on Sept. 1 to clean graffiti from a Hungarian bakery and a Peruvian restaurant.

“We have the power in our hearts and fingertips to take it into our hands when we see a problem that needs to be addressed," said Perlman, "rather than thinking that someone else will always pursue it.”

The clean-up initiative began in fall 2020 when the Sanitation department, Mayor's office and Econonic Development Corporation's Graffiti-Free NYC program was suspended, Perlman told Patch.

The organization president began fundraising and organizing volunteers who wanted to help local businesses maintain their storefronts.

“I began presenting consent forms to mostly small business owners," Perlman said. "Since they are the cornerstone of our communities.”

The purpose of the initiative is to restore and enhance commercial and residential properties by eliminating graffiti to foster civic pride, Perlman told Patch.

At the cleanup events, graffiti is either painted, scrubbed or power-washed away, and the volunteers spark friendships and grow their bond with their neighbors, while taking pride in supporting their community, Perlman added.

“We enjoy ourselves,” Perlman said. “Power to the people who understand and value their communities most by taking the initiative!

“If graffiti and other quality of life issues are not addressed in a timely manner, it often multiplies, but we are committed. As a case in point, it is a shame that some properties are tagged again, but it's a matter of us to come forward and emphasize our commitment by maintaining them routinely.”

Perlman thanked local residents and businesses for providing funding for the cleanup projects, people who have volunteered to help and GG NY Painting Plus, AZ Painting & Refinishing and J&B Paint & Wallpaper for their donations.

The next volunteer event is on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Forest Hills. People can reach out to Perlman on Facebook to learn the exact location of the next cleanup project.