



Kerry Burke AND Bill Hutchinson, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

He's been dead for more than three years, but George Carlin's "Seven Dirty Words" is still polarizing his old Morningside Heights neighborhood.

More than 6,500 people have signed a petition requesting W. 121st St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave. be renamed after the caustic comic.

The petition was presented at last night's Community Board 9 meeting, which drew a standing-room-only crowd.

But the Rev. Raymond Rafferty - principal of Corpus Christi School, Carlin's Catholic alma mater - countered that such an honor for a smut mouth would be shameful.

"His vulgarity is very strong, and that is not a good role model for children," said Rafferty, who is also the church's pastor.

If approved, a street sign bearing Carlin's name would go up directly in front of the school.

"George Carlin was a tremendously influential American figure," said Morningside Heights comedian Kevin Bartini. "He did live on the street for over 20 years."

In his hit comic albums "Class Clown" and "Occupation: Fool," Carlin pokes fun at his old neighborhood, calling it "White Harlem" to make it sound "tough."