This from alert neighbor Mike in Glen Park:
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Did anyone else find an official-looking piece of paper attached to your house today entitled, “COMMUNITY NOTICE”?
At first glance, it appears to be an official posting from the city. And a scary one at that, between the all-uppercase title and a first paragraph declaring that, in an emergency, the city’s police, fire, and ambulance services might not be able to get to your home in time unless you sign up to get your house number repainted on the curb. It even has a statement at the end, “This is a legally licensed and registered service”, which while very official-sounding, in fact means very little.
They ask residents to leave a $20 check taped to their front doors.
I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that this is not a government contractor, and in fact has no affiliation whatsoever with the city or even any local private community or neighborhood organizations. They operated on the east coast in 2008 — here’s what the Washington Post had to say:
Manassas officials are warning residents of a curb-painting scam that has occurred in the area.
According to the city, a company called Community Address Painting Service has distributed fliers soliciting residents to get their house numbers painted on their curbs. The fliers make it sound as though the city is requesting the painting, which is not the case.
Curbs and gutters are city property, and Manassas officials do not support painting house numbers on them, according to city documents.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/19/AR2008091904221.html
And a local NBC affiliate:
Roanoke residents are advised that services offered by a company called Community Address Painting Service, which has distributed fliers soliciting residents to have their house number painted on the curb in front of their house, is not endorsed by the City of Roanoke.
Along public streets, the curb is city property and painting house numbers on the curb is not allowed under city ordinance.
Historically, the city has not supported painting house numbers on curbs as it is not a recommended means of identification for public safety purposes.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/jul/24/roanoke_city_does_not_endorse_curbside_house_numbe-ar-359767/
Now, don’t get me wrong — if you think your curb number could use a touchup, and think that $20 is a fair price, by all means give them a shot. But I wanted to make sure nobody gets fooled into thinking this is something requested or in any way endorsed by the city.