By Mike Schnitzel
So it came as a surprise to the Lynbrook couple when they awoke last Saturday morning to find their garage door and car blanketed with Republican campaign stickers.
"I was angry," said Altman when asked about her reaction to what she found at her Rowe Avenue home. "[Rob and I] put signs up on our own house and cars, but we don't bother anyone else."
After discovering the signage, Altman said she and Shepard called police. According to Altman, the responding officer took down the signs and suggested to her that they were put up as a prank by children in the neighborhood.
Altman believes that a local Republican organization is responsible. "Where are local kids going to get their hands on all these political signs?" she said.
This campaign year, the incident does not appear to be unique. Jeffrey and Miriam Smith of Merrick came home from synagogue on Rosh Hashana to find the sign on their front lawn torn in three places and thrown on the sidewalk. "We crossed the street and saw it immediately," said Jeffrey, who lives across from Merrick Avenue Middle School. "It had to be on purpose."
The Smiths' sign was a small election billboard for Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick. The Smiths are friends and political supporters of Denenberg's. They attend Congregation Ohav Sholom with him. "We've had David's signs up [in past elections], and we've never had incidents before," Smith said.
Denenberg's campaign managers say they've had more than 30 signs destroyed or stolen in recent weeks. Now Friends of Dave Denenberg, the legislator's re-election team, is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone caught stealing or ripping down his campaign signs, said Bob Young, Denenberg's campaign coordinator.
According to Lynbrook Police Chief Joseph Neve, Altman and Shepard reported Saturday's incident at 8:58 a.m., and officer Vincent Valentino responded. "They did not want to pursue the matter, and [Altman] did not file a complaint," said Neve. "So there will be no further investigation."
Altman disputes that account, saying that the responding officer took the signs as evidence, and said he would "keep a lookout" for the responsible parties. She said that she believed calling the police was all she had to do to get the matter investigated.
According to Lynbrook Police Chief Joseph Neve, if Altman and Shepard file a complaint, the police department would initiate an investigation.
Scott Brinton contributed to this story.
Comments about it? MSchnitzel@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
