City officials are reminding Cerritos and Artesia residents not to use curb painters who are not officially contracted by their respective cities.
Cerritos Residents
The Cerritos Public Works Department is responsible for repainting all residential addresses on public curbs at no cost. Therefore, residents should not pay any curb painters who ask for a donation or payment.
Permission and licensing from the city is also required before a person can paint anything on public curbs. Murals, emblems and pictures of any kind are not allowed, according to a city-issued statement.
"Keep in mind that if you pay a curb painter with a check, your personal information could potentially be used for identity theft," the statement added.
Residents who have been approached by curb painters who do not have a City-issued business license or permit, are asked to report the incident to the Cerritos Maintenance Division by calling (562) 860-0311.
Artesia Residents
According to Artesia public information officer Andrew Perry, an individual has reportedly been canvassing homes, requesting payment or donations to paint street addresses on curbs.
Anyone who is approached by a group or individual offering to paint a curb address, should refuse their services and immediately contact the City at (562) 865-6262 or call the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Lakewood Station (which patrols the Artesia area) at (562) 623-3500.
Last year, a group called Canning Hunger – a nonprofit hunger relief organization - was authorized by the Artesia City Council to repaint city curbs. Therefore, all curbs should have been painted in 2010.
However, if a resident believes that their curb needs repainting now, he/she should contact City Hall at (562) 865-6262 to request curb painting service from the Public Works Department. A service request can also be made online.
