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The Brooklyn Paper / Sarah Portlock

Richard Brown is organizing a grassroots effort to remove the bright red, glowing Verizon sign from its building in Manhattan, charging that it destroys the view.

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A newcomer to Brooklyn Heights wants the glowing red Verizon logo removed from the telecommunication building just across the Brooklyn Bridge, and is vowing to ramp up the fight just like the masses before him.

Canarsie man Richard Brown, who now spends significant time on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with a new significant other, said he first noticed the “unsightly blemish” as he and his lady were enjoying a sunset a few weeks ago. And every evening since, the sign — located atop the 32-story building’s limestone monolith at 375 Pearl St. in Manhattan — has agitated him.

“Just because something’s legal doesn’t mean it should be done,” said Brown, whose “campaign” so far consists only of “rallying support,” though he may soon branch into T-shirts.

“We’ll just huff and puff for a while and see if something gets done,” added Brown, a car salesman who told The Brooklyn Paper about his crusade via fax.

Perhaps he is onto something — though he’s certainly not the first Quixote to tilt at this particular windmill.

“People before him have tried; more power to him,” shrugged Brooklyn Heights Association Executive President Judy Stanton. “But I agree with him — it’s not what you want to see when you’re looking over at Manhattan.”

Columbia Heights residents have long lobbied local officials, the city, and Verizon itself to remove the sign, all to no avail, Stanton said.

A Verizon spokesman said this week that nothing’s going to happen immediately.

“At this time, the sign is remaining unchanged,” said the spokesman, John Bonamo.

Then again, last year, Verizon sold part of the building to developers, who plan to open up the stony façade with a new glass curtain wall and create one million square feet of new office space. The new owners are also reportedly offering the sign space as an additional enticement to potential companies.

Tourists and Brooklynites alike say they can’t wait for the changes — if only because they may lead to the removal of the logo.

“Take it down!” said Katie Macallum, adding that the city should rule against unsightly signs. “The building is ugly, too. It ruins the whole landscape, and it makes it cheesy. It doesn’t fit in with the architecture.”

— with Elyssa Pachico

©2008 The Brooklyn Paper