Cedar Park Neighbors is taking advantage of a city program to raise some money and get rid of those illegal slapdash signs posted on light poles, sidewalk trees and other public places offering cash for your house, your car or even your diabetic test strips.

The city is offering community groups 50 cents a sign during the “Illegal Signs Roundup” from June 1 through June 15.

Michael Froehlich, an attorney with Community Legal Services’ Homeownership and Consumer Rights unit and a Cedar Park resident, said the initiative particularly targets the signs of “real estate predators” offering to buy homes for cash.

“They rip off seniors and low-income families. Their illegal advertising litters and disrespects our communities,” he said in an e-mail. “For us, it’s a win-win-win: we protect homeowners from being tricked by these predators, we clean up our streets from these ugly advertisements, and we raise money to support our Friday night jazz series, scholarship program, and other community activities.” 

Froehlich advised people who want to sell their home to consider contacting a licensed realtor to “make sure that you get a fair price for your property.”

Cedar Park Neighbors is not interested in signs that advertise lost pets, yard sales, house parties etc.

If you want to help out, remove the signs from the pole or tree on public property (most are held on with zip ties, so bring some good scissors or other cutting implement) and drop them off on the porch of a CPN board member at one of the following addresses:

• 1008 South 47th St.

• 506 South 48th St.

• 5117 Catharine St.

• 934 South Saint Bernard St.