Much Ado About a Sign: Businessman takes shot at Brookhaven's legal embarrassments

Newsday ^ | August 11, 2003 | Indrani Sen

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Among the garish signs of bagel shops and chain bookstores, next to the familiar golden arches on the north side of Route 347, a plain white board with stark black lettering is a sign of bad times for town Republicans.

"WELCOME TO CROOKHAVEN TOWNSHIP," it reads. Erected by Stony Brook native Bill Sullivan last week outside B. Sullivan's, his now-defunct catering hall, bar and club, the sign provoked double-takes from some drivers. Others stopped to take a photo. Still others clapped Sullivan, 39, on the back and commended him for his "guts."

LOOK! AN EXCERPT!

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Kudos to Sullivan.

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And now you know... the rest of the story:

Town Democratic leader Marsha Laufer was tickled by the sign, which derides the town's Republican political establishment for the indictments on corruption charges of two high-profile officials, Highway Supervisor Patricia Strebel and County Legis. Fred Towle. Towle pleaded guilty in May to taking a bribe and using campaign money for personal expenses, and resigned. Strebel has maintained her innocence and is seeking re-election.

"It reflects potentially strong grassroots sentiment and anger over the continued abuse of power and the ongoing corruption," she said. "People are angry."

But not everyone has taken so kindly to Sullivan's unorthodox political protest. The plexiglass sign was defaced with spray paint one night last week, and torn down and dumped beside its stand another night. Sullivan put it back up Friday night.

A registered Republican who grew up in Stony Brook but recently moved to Manhattan, Sullivan said his sign is also a personal protest. His bar was closed for almost 40 violations in May, and he claims he was targeted by the town because of disputes involving the landlord from whom he rents the space. The tickets Sullivan was issued were mostly building and fire code violations, including one for not having the required certificate of occupancy, which he said carries a $25,000 fine.

"I guess in one sense I'm venting at the town," he said. "They came in and just started writing up tickets. They don't give you a chance to explain anything."

Supervisor John Jay LaValle did not return calls for comment yesterday, but his chief of staff, George Hoffman, denied Sullivan's charges.

"It sounds to me like you've just got a disgruntled business person who would like to flout the town law," he said. "The law's the law. These guys think that they're above the law. They always cry politics every time they want to violate the code."

Hoffman said the summonses that closed B. Sullivan's were part of a town program of stepped-up code enforcement, called "Brookhaven Pride."

Another part of that program, he said, is enforcing illegal signage laws. Though the town "does not have any wish or right" to regulate the political content of signs, he said, Sullivan has violated town law by not getting a permit for his Crookhaven sign.

"Now that it's been brought to our attention," Hoffman said, "I'm sure he'll be getting a summons for an illegal sign, too."

[Chad Fairbanks]

he claims he was targeted by the town because of disputes involving the landlord from whom he rents the space. The tickets Sullivan was issued were mostly building and fire code violations, including one for not having the required certificate of occupancy, which he said carries a $25,000 fine.

I suppose the frst thing I would do, is ask Mr. Sullivan if the code violations were valid, or were they falsified...? Then I would decide whether to give him Kudos or not. ;0)

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Yeah, you're right. Sullivan, I want my kudos back.

[Chad Fairbanks]

LOL... well, like I said - maybe he was targeted, and the violations are bogus... but, maybe I'm just cynical :0)

[new cruelty]

Nah, go with your first impression. Look at his picture. This is a man that would sooner shoot you than smile at you. It's like looking into the abyss. < /I'M JUST KIDDING>

[Chad Fairbanks]

You just know he's gonna be fined for that sign, since it probably violates half a dozen local ordinances, and we'll be seeing his lawsuit, with the assistance of the ACLU, filed shortly after...

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"Now that it's been brought to our attention," Hoffman said, "I'm sure he'll be getting a summons for an illegal sign, too."

Yep, according to the EXCERPTED article, it looks like they plan on fining him for the sign as well. The Man is bringing him down.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, if you are gonna bring attention to yourself, at least do it in a manner in which they can't fine you ;0) Me? I'd have followed the procedure for putting up a sign saying "Welcome to Brookhaven Township", and out it up legally - except the sign would say what his says and I'd just say "oops. The signmaker goofed, I guess" ;0)

[ladyjane]

Having lived there (briefly) I'd say there's a good chance he was being targeted. Services seem to be run by some vague 'organization' and it's not a good idea to cross them. One young man tried to break into the rubbish carting business. He was shot at a few times, finally killed. It was SOP to take a case of Chivas to the local assessor or zoning board member. The place appeared to be very corrupt.

[new cruelty]

They'd probably get him with a 'sign maker goofed' fine.

Which reminds me. I was at the NJ DMV recently, getting a driver's license. I noticed they made a mistake on my birthdate. However, they were about to close and asked me to come back another time to correct the mistake. So I went back a week later, waited in line, and informed them again of the mistake. They had me redo my entire application then charged me $3.00 for correcting their mistake! I paid the frickin' fee, got my license, and got out of there as quickly as possible. Money aside, the total time I spent trying to get a new license: 6 hours.

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wow.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, then maybe kudos ARE in order for this guy - however, I don't know if local corruption excuses code violations - I'm still of two minds about that... :0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Don't you know that government agencies never make mistakes? ;0)

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LOL, I think the NJ DMV clerk would agree.

Part of our discourse went as follows:

"So I am paying for your mistake", I asked the clerk.

"I wouldn't characterize it like that", she replied.

"So how would you characterize it", I asked.

"That will be $3.00", she answered.

At which time I turned to my 4 month old daugher, cradled in my left arm and stated, "did you hear that, sweety, this lady doesn't think you and I are having to pay for her mistake". My daughter, usually fond of smiling and laughing, appropriately frowned. The clerk did not seem amused.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Heh. The state here just sent me a letter, offering to allow me to "extend" my license for another year, by filling out a form and sending in money - in return, I'd geta sticker for the back of my licence.

Then, I noticed that if I did it that way, I'd end up paying more than the normal fee for renewal. So, I'll go sit in the darn DMV Office and pay my 14 bucks or so now, not 5 now, and 14 next year. Whata scam.

[new cruelty]

That's a tough one. If it meant not going through that painful experience for a year, I think I would pay the $5.00.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Good point. Me? I'm a cheapskate - I'm gonna have to go in anyway, and I'd rather have my license fully-renewed for 14 bucks, rather than 14+5 for the same length of time... ;0)

[new cruelty]

True. It doesn't make any sense to pay if the time is not extended.

[hattend]

"Now that it's been brought to our attention," Hoffman said, "I'm sure he'll be getting a summons for an illegal sign, too."

Hmmmm...sounds like a First Amendment violation. The law is the law, after all.