Reginald Smith, newly appointed president of his neighborhood Community Civic Association, told the City Commission on Oct. 22 that repeated graffiti—some containing racist and antisemitic language—has been appearing across the Northwest section of Hallandale Beach and that city removal efforts have been insufficient.

Smith said he filed complaints via the city app and spoke with police and code enforcement but ultimately removed some graffiti himself because it was not being abated quickly. He told the commission the graffiti included “the n‑word, gang signs” and anti‑Semitic language and asked the city to treat the problem as urgent.

Mayor Joy Cooper and City Manager Dr. Earl responded that staff would assign the code compliance matter manager to meet with Smith and verify locations and property status. Dr. Earl noted that if graffiti appears on private property the city’s ability to remove it is constrained by property‑owner permissions; staff said they would confirm which walls are public rights‑of‑way and which are private and would proceed accordingly.

Commissioners underscored the seriousness of the content. One commissioner described prior incidents with similar language and said criminal investigators, including the FBI and state law enforcement, had been involved in a separate threat case that referenced comparable wording; the commission emphasized that hate‑based threats prompt law‑enforcement follow‑up.

Why it matters: Repeated hate speech and threats heighten fear among targeted residents, prompting calls for faster removal, stronger communication about enforcement protocols and potentially criminal investigation when threats are credible.

Ending: City staff agreed to arrange on‑site visits with the neighborhood association to map affected locations, confirm whether each site is private or public property, and then pursue immediate abatement or enforcement steps; commissioners asked staff to keep the city manager and mayor updated on criminal referrals and removal status.