NEW YORK—Mayor Bloomberg signed into law two new bills on Tuesday that create comprehensive wetland protection and require registration to purchase etching acid, which is commonly used in graffiti.
Introductory Number 506-A establishes a comprehensive wetlands protection strategy.
“The protection of our wetlands is one of 10 water quality initiatives outlined in PlaNYC. Wetlands play an important role in maintaining and improving water quality, providing flood protection and wildlife habitats, and sequestering carbon dioxide. However, we have lost 86 percent of our wetlands in the last century due to environmental change and development,” Bloomberg said.
“Although there are State and federal protections for our remaining wetlands, State law leaves room at the local level to set additional protection strategies. As a result of Local Law 83 of 2005, which the Council passed and I signed, the City is working to protect more than eighty acres of City-owned wetlands, in addition to other acquisitions and the thousands of acres we already have under management in our Parks and Bluebelt systems.
Introductory Number 380-A requires registration for the purchase of etching acid.
“There is a growing etching acid vandalism problem in New York City—most notable in the windows of our subway cars and buses. Also known as ‘scratchiti,’ etching acid permanently scars these windows, which must be replaced at a cost of approximately $11 million a year. Introductory Number 380-A requires purchasers of etching acid to show valid photo identification prior to buying the product and requires sellers to keep detailed records of purchasers for one year. This information is to be provided to the NYPD upon request to assist them in enforcing against graffiti crime.
“Graffiti vandalism is a plague on the aesthetic quality of this City and also presents a significant economic burden by decreasing property values, frustrating business owners, and forcing private citizens and government agencies to spend significant resources restoring vandalized surfaces. Introductory Number 380-A makes it clear that graffiti – in any form—is not welcome and will not be tolerated in New York City.”
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