There’s a battle brewing in Pasco County about roadside memorials. A Hudson woman wants them taken down, and she might get what she wants.

A petition is circling Pasco County to keep roadside memorials as they are. The petition was created by Jahida Torres, who has a memorial for her brother in New Port Richey. Jonathan M. Perez, 17, was killed in a motorcycle accident March 12. Within the first two days of the petition, it already had more than 1,000 signatures

But about two months ago, Lisa Bekiaris complained to the county about the memorials and recently got a nod from commissioners that they would explore other options, like using a uniform sign. However, Torres says it’s not enough.

“This here is the last place my brother's body was, so for us, that means so much,” Torres said. “For his friends, it’s a healing place. When we’re not at the cemetery, we come here (and find relief). This is where we talk to him, where we feel he is still here with us.”

Bekiaris lives near the Kitten Trail location where 53-year-old Buddy Downing was killed while riding his bike in January. A memorial was erected there on county right-of-way land and it includes a handmade wooden cross and an assortment of silk flowers.

“Every time I pull in or pull out, it’s a reminder of what I saw that night,” Bekiaris told Bay News 9 in June.

Bekiaris says that while she understands the family’s loss, she believes memorials should be kept up for no more than 30 days.

She says they are often not kept up by the people who erect them and there are about 100 roadside memorials in place around the county.

Currently, the county does not have an ordinance regulating memorials. But it does have one that prevents putting anything up in the public right-of-way.

The county says it will consider other options. However, employees are reluctant because of the sensitivity issues with removing them.

https://www.change.org/organizations/help_save_roadside_memorials_in_pasco_county.