Free speech will cost you in Yonkers.
A woman who aired her gripes with government by posting placards on her front lawn has been repeatedly slapped with summonses.
But Cindi Brink, 50, whose life was turned upside down by the death of her 12-year-old daughter in 2008, found out you can fight City Hall censorship.
She began putting up the signs last year at her Minerva Drive house. The posters criticize local officials and even warn about area crime.
One called out the town’s sign inspector, Fran Muscente.
“F. Muscente $100,000 + city car + cell = her job ticket lady! And Yonkers would rather layoff teachers?”
In 2009, Brink scuffled with a neighbor who had parked in front of Brink’s home and allegedly hurt Brink’s elderly mother. After Yonkers Judge Michael Martinelli found the neighbor not guilty of assault, Brink shot back with a sign.
“NO TRESPASSING Violators Will not be Prosecuted. Thank Judge Martinelli,” it read.
She was cited for alleged code violations for the signs at least twice last year.
“They don’t like what I’m saying,” Brink said. “They don’t want signs they don’t like, which is, I believe, against my freedom of speech.”
A judge overseeing her case in Yonkers city court cleared her of wrongdoing in December.
She is now suing the city of Yonkers and its code-enforcement officers in Manhattan federal court for malicious prosecution.
“This is my property that I pay taxes on. I have the right to say what I feel,” Brink said.
Because Brink regularly removed the signs within 90 days, they’re legal under Yonkers regulations, said her lawyer, Jonathan Lovett.
“They didn’t even know their own code,” he said.
Yonkers officials didn’t return a call for comment.
In March 2008, 15-year-old Anthony Brown gave Brink’s daughter, Dana Marie Regan, four of his father’s methadone pills, police said. The girl died.
Brown pleaded guilty in Family Court to selling a controlled substance and spent 15 months in a juvenile detention facility.